Melissa Ralph: 7th grade Math teacher

Job Description: Melissa teaches 7th grade Pre-Algebra to 135 students, five periods a day. Her students are learning the foundations of Algebra and Geometry in classes of 21 – 29 students.

Location: Islander Middle School

Typical Day: Melissa usually arrives at 7:30 am to plan her day before the students arrive. She teaches 1st and 2nd period, has 3rd off, then teaches 4th, 5th and 6th periods. She often spends time planning lessons on the ‘Smart Board.” Melissa really appreciates having this powerful tool for learning. “It is an interactive screen connected to my computer and a document camera. We have a lot of fun sharing our thinking and discovering new ways to solve problems. I can save all of the students’ work on my computer.”

Best part of the job: “Building relationships with middle school students. This is a difficult time in their lives – they have a lot going on besides school. I find myself being both a teacher and a mentor to them. It is so much fun to see them get excited about math.”

Years worked in the district: 17 years

Something people may not know: Melissa has taught 2nd, 3rd , 4th grade and Special Ed at Island Park. She also taught PE at Lakeridge. Last year she was named MISD’s Teacher of the Year.

Outside interests: Melissa and her husband Mike live on Mercer Island and enjoy spending time with their children, Austin, age 13, a student at IMS (this week, he has changed his name to Houston!) and Lauren, a 4th grader at Lakeridge. Melissa trains for Triathlons and loves to read in the summer. She tries to read all of the Newberry Award winners and enjoys Jodi Picoult novels and The Twilight Series.