Her Story
About Melissa
Melissa Cheney is an accomplished Career and Technical Education (CTE) educator and healthcare professional dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders. As the Medical Academy Lead Teacher and CTE Department Lead at the Washoe County School District in Sparks, Nevada, she leads a comprehensive Health Science and Sports Medicine program that equips high school students with the academic knowledge, technical skills, and real-world clinical experiences needed to succeed in healthcare careers. Through dual-credit opportunities, industry partnerships, and hands-on instruction, she helps students build a seamless pathway from secondary education to college and the healthcare workforce.
Melissa brings more than 25 years of combined experience in healthcare and education. Before transitioning into teaching, she spent a decade working in physical therapy clinics and athletic training, gaining practical expertise in rehabilitation, sports medicine, and patient care. She later pursued a career in education, where she has spent the past 15 years teaching Health Science and Sports Medicine while fostering strong collaborations with healthcare organizations, colleges, and community partners. She earned her bachelor's degree in Health Sciences from Montana Technological University and a master's degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from California University of Pennsylvania in 2007.
Throughout her career, Melissa has been recognized for her outstanding leadership and commitment to student success. She serves as an advisor and board member for Nevada HOSA, has been honored twice as Nevada HOSA Advisor of the Year, and has been nominated for the Nevada Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year award. Passionate about empowering future healthcare professionals, she emphasizes empathy, authenticity, and lifelong learning in both the classroom and the community. Her dedication to career-focused education continues to create meaningful opportunities for students while strengthening Nevada's healthcare workforce.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for healthcare and finding the perfect balance that allows me to be a dedicated mom while pursuing my professional goals through teaching. Teaching gives me the same schedule as my daughter so I can be there for homework, dinner, and bedtime while still being my professional self and laying foundations for the next generation.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Put yourself in their shoes and never forget where you came from. Everybody started at the beginning, and too often people in higher positions forget what it was like on that first day.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Love what you do. Being a good role model and showing that life is not always sunshine and rainbows but if you love what you do, the passion will fuel you.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family and trueness to self. Just be your authentic self unapologetically, regardless of the audience or environment.
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