Melissa Collins is a second grade teacher at John P. Freeman Optional School in Memphis, Tennessee, and believes that is imperative to expose students to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). She reasons that increasing STEM in the curriculum will motivate students to pursue math and science related careers, something she has worked hard to do in her classroom. She is an NEA Foundation Pearson Global Learning Fellow, and implements global awareness into her curriculum, so her students can value and appreciate others. She also works to broaden educators’ perspectives about global competencies by speaking and presenting at various venues.
Melissa is an advocate for public education, and she believes teachers must have a voice in shaping policy and practice. Her passion has led her to participate in Fellowship programs with America Achieves and Teach Plus. As an America Achieves Teacher Fellow, she has advised former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s senior advisors, become active with Raise the Bar Parents, and advocated for the Common Core State Standards. She also serves on the Teach Plus Fellows Alumni Policy Advisory Committee.
To help ensure that all children have access to a caring and committed teacher, she has mentored several teachers through the National Board Certified Teacher process. She is the recipient of several awards and honors, including: the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence, the Presidential Award for Excellence Mathematics and Science Teaching, the National Science Teaching Association Sylvia Shurgrue Award, and West Tennessee Teacher of the Year.
