The Nebraska Writing Project presented the 2024 Carol MacDaniels Teacher of the Year Award to Melissa Legate. An English teacher at Piece Jr-Sr. High School, Melissa’s impact extends through her school and across the state of Nebraska through her multiple leadership roles with the Nebraska Writing Project. She has served as a Co-Director of our site, mentored teachers as part of one of the largest studies on argument writing ever completed, hosted an embedded institute in her own district, coordinated our involvement with the NETA Conference, and this year, she is facilitating our summer institute. Melissa stands out to me for her thoughtful intelligence, gift at hosting conversations across divides, and unwavering commitment to students and to the larger work of teaching. She completed a stellar MA thesis about her work equipping students to have rich discussions about complex public issues online (if only our most politicians would have been her students!). Rather than shying away from difficult conversations, Melissa wades in alongside her students, with the boldness of a truly great teacher.
As her nominator, Brenda Larabee, writes, “In 2015, Melissa wholeheartedly embraced the Nebraska Writing Project Summer Institute experience. During this transformative period, she demonstrated an exceptional capacity for growth and innovation. Using her own words from the EQUIP presentation she delivered at the Summer Institute, Melissa articulated a profound philosophy: “We (as teachers) can cultivate in our students awareness, the ability to question things as they are, and a sense of responsibility for dissenting and envisioning solutions when they become aware of injustice.” This quote encapsulates the force and enthusiasm with which Melissa approaches everything in her classroom and her work with the Nebraska Writing Project.
Echoing similar themes, as one of NeWP colleagues writes, Melissa is “a force for positive change in the educational landscape,” continuing, “Melissa embodies the NeWP core value of teachers teaching teachers. She facilitates collaboration between teachers extraordinarily well, inviting their experience and expertise to speak in order to develop programming, activities and lesson plans that are in the best interest of students. She is driven, humble, and dedicated to professional growth.”
Melissa’s leadership is well-known at her school, as well. In the words of her principal, “In my humble opinion, I believe Mrs. Legate is one of the very best English instructors in the state of Nebraska . . . . Whether it's been a class she's taught or an activity she's sponsored or coached, it's always "turned to gold" because of her dedication and detail-oriented preparation. Not only is she a hard worker, Mrs. Legate also is a "kid magnet." Her students are naturally drawn to her because of her caring nature and ability and willingness to relate to all types of children.”
The way Melissa both cares for and challenges her students is evident in the words they used to describe her classes. One of her students wrote, “She facilitated class discussions in a way that both let everyone voice their perspective and allowed students to find nuance by listening to others.” In another’s words, “To be blunt, I was not too fond of English class due to the rigorous writing involved along with many complex readings that we were expected to understand eventually. Writing was very difficult for me because, quite frankly, I wasn't comfortable with being pushed outside my comfort zone. However . . . Mrs. Legate knew that this is where students grow the most.” A third adds, “She pushed me to think for myself and helped me grow and develop as an individual. I know that I am a better person today because of her!”
In addition to exemplary teaching and advocacy for teachers, Melissa also embodies the ideal that the best teachers of writing are writers themselves. You can hear in Melissa’s writing not only her powerful voice, but her deep commitment to craft. I want to end with an excerpt from a blog post by Melissa, in which she engages head on the negative messages about teaching swirling around in our culture, responding to students who asks ““Why would Mr. So-and-So have chosen to be just a high school teacher? He’s so smart” or “I can’t believe That Brilliant Alumnus settled for being a teacher.”
You asked me if I enjoy my work. Most days, HELL YES. Are there times the seemingly impenetrable apathy in the room is enough to suffocate me? Times I feel so inundated with lesson planning or providing feedback on a stack of essays that I scarcely have time to eat lunch? Times I rack my brain so hard to come up with something I pray will keep you engaged that I have no mental energy left when I go home to my own kids? Times the ratio between my work and my level of compensation feels so incredibly unbalanced that I contemplate joining a pyramid scheme? Also, HELL YES.
But these times pass. And when they do, they give way to the good stuff. . . . . What I love most about my job is not what I teach; it is whom I teach. And that changes with every hour-and-a-half. . . . . Your teachers have the honor of helping you learn about the world and where you fit in it, of piquing your curiosity and guiding you to answers, of walking beside you as you try new things and gradually backing off as you master them. . . . . We teach you how to think. To problem solve. To struggle and succeed. To research and question and create. We teach you that you belong here. That we value you. That you have gifts no one else has, and that you can do amazing things because of them.
So perhaps Mr. So-and-So down the hall and That Brilliant Alum settled for chose this life not because they are suckers willing to take measly pay or because they must not have been able to succeed in any field that actually matters . . . . Perhaps they became teachers because they know what it is to watch the eyes of a student who has just made a discovery, seen a connection, or sparked an idea. They know what it means to read the words of a young person finding voice through an argumentative essay or processing major life events in a narrative. . . . . They know that teaching allows them to impact humans who will eventually hold every profession, political office, and community leadership position of the future. They know. Because you said it yourself; they’re brilliant.”
Melissa, the Nebraska Writing Project see your brilliance, and we are honored to present you with the 2024 Carol MacDaniels Teacher of the Year Award!