IU graduate receives 2012 state ‘Teacher of the Year’ recognition

Melanie Park, a reading remediation teacher at Riverview Middle School in Huntington, Ind., has been named Indiana’s 2012 Teacher of the Year. Park, who attended IU’s School of Education, became the second consecutive IU graduate to win this award.

Park said she became interested in pursuing a teaching career when she was in high school. 

“I always knew I wanted to do something where I could serve others, and education is perfect because it allows me to serve kids,” Park said.

Park said the IU education program did an excellent job of looking at the whole picture by requiring a diverse range of classes and allowing students to go into classrooms before doing their student teaching.

“Every class I took at IU prepared me in a different way for what I would experience in the classroom,” Park said.

She works with students who are reading at least two grade levels below their actual years. Her job is to make sure students make grade-level gains in just a few years in order to prepare them for high school and beyond.

However, Park’s job is more than just teaching reading. Since these kids have been behind for so long, they often tend to act out in the classroom because they have been struggling to learn.

As a result, Park also works with her students about behavior management and encourages their confidence in themselves and their reading skills.

Park said her favorite part is watching kids grow and celebrating their accomplishments with them.

She said last year, she had students who were able to improve by four reading levels in just one year.

Park said her success as a teacher is likely a result of her passion for her job as much as her skills.

“Middle school really shaped and molded me.” Park said.

She said she sees relationship building as an essential aspect of her job. Park said students will work harder for teachers who have a strong relationship with them.

“Being named Teacher of the Year is such an honor, but I am just a representative of all the teachers in Indiana and everyone who has supported me and helped me to grow,” Park said.

— Alexandria Stutzman