THIS IS ME!Melissa Dawn Townsend

Life, Times, and Experiences

Biographical DataBorn: April 30, 1968

Place of Birth: Chesapeake, Virginia

Current Residence: Smithfield, North Carolina

Married to Jason Townsend

Four Children: Mark, 23Carol, 19

Mariah, 12Charlotte, 11

Two StepchildrenChristopher, 22

Alisha, 21

Family

Top Left: Alisha, Carol

Center: Jason

Top Right: Christopher

Bottom Left: Mark

Bottom Right: Mariah, Charlotte

Major Accomplishments

Three Time President’s List Award Recipient

All-American Scholar

Jean Craighead George

Freshman Writing Award

Bachelor of ScienceSpecial Education

July 2009East Carolina University

Associate in ArtsJuly 2007

College of the Albemarle

Significant Experiences My first job was as a Library Assistant. One of my

responsibilities was to design and implement children’s library programming.

I educated my own two oldest children at home for six wonderful years.

I have provided in-home care for children with ADHD and behavioral and emotional disabilities.

I have also tutored a third grader with learning disabilities and ADHD.

For six years, I was a Correctional Officer and responsible for the supervision of adult male inmates, often with mild to moderate mental retardation, ADHD, behavioral and emotional disabilities and mental illnesses.

Currently, I am enjoying my second year as an Exceptional Children’s Teacher at Harnett Central Middle School in Angier, North Carolina.

Other Experiences Vacation Bible School Teacher Vacation Bible School Director Sunday School Teacher Scoutmaster/Den Leader, Cub Scouts Elementary School Volunteer Public Library Volunteer Child Care Provider Youth Leader Nursery Assistant

Hobbies

Reading WritingSewing

Cross-Stitching

Classic MoviesListening to Music

Painting Ceramics

Reasons for Teaching

Children Can Learn!

Children Want to Learn!

Children Deserve a Chance!

Children are our Future!

Children Need

Teachers!

A Little More about MeI was reared by my maternal grandparents. My grandfather did not finish eighth grade, and my grandmother barely finished high

school.

If I wanted to learn something, I was required to look it up in a dictionary,

encyclopedia, or other book.

I learned to love learning and

research.

I discovered the richness of

classic literature.

Several of my teachers were

formative in my life.

I want to pay forward some of what was given so freely to me.

A Final WordI believe that students can and will learn

whenchallenged to do so in a safe and nurturing learning environment. I also believe that a

goal of teaching children must be to develop

lifelong learners who can discover big ideas and

great concepts independently. Finally, I believe

that it is of vital import that all students read the

great classics and ponder the thoughts of

history’s greatest minds.