Name: Melany Nussbaumer
School: North Myrtle Beach Middle School
Subject(s) taught: Science
Age: 56
Hometown: North Myrtle Beach
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama
College: Presbyterian College, master’s degrees (2) from University of South Carolina
Number of years teaching: 32
Favorite memory: “I have so many special memories, it’s hard to choose just one. But I taught a student, a very smart and quiet girl. She went to Coastal Carolina University. We saw her working at local restaurant. She said she was interviewing for a job at the Maryland Aquarium, and said ‘Oh great! How did you get interested in that? It sounds so wonderful.’ And she said, ‘Miss Nussbaumer, when I was in eighth grade you inspired me to go into science.’ I had no idea.”

GrandStrand Magazine: When did you decide you wanted to be a teacher?

Melany Nussbaumer: “I was always a very curious child growing up. When I moved overseas with my family, I kept that curiosity. ... In my third year of college I finally decided to major in education.”

GSM: What makes a great teacher?

MN: “You have to love the kids you teach—and I love this age—the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Especially with middle-schoolers, it’s not just about teaching the subject. Their hormones are raging, and they have all kinds of stress in the family, peer pressure. … You have to be kind of a counselor at that age. One of the reasons I love this age group so much is that they need an adult to connect with. Each child is different, with their own strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes you have to be able go with flow when they are distraught. You have girls crying, sometimes the guys are crying, and they need someone to understand where they’re coming from, not just someone who tells them to stop.”

GSM: Are kids different today than kids of 5, 10 or 25 years ago?

MN: “Definitely. It’s more difficult today for parents to spend quality time with their kids; many have two or three jobs. I see it in my classroom. They crave the attention from an adult. Also, their knowledge level, because of the Internet, but unfortunately they don’t get the whole story. ”

GSM: Were you a good student?

MN: “Oh, my gosh, yes. If I didn’t make straight As I would agonize.”

GSM: What were your challenges with kids this year?

MN: “Especially in the sciences and social studies, kids are not grouped according to their abilities—such as accelerated math, accelerated language arts—but in science and social studies we get them all mixed up into one group, so in the same classroom I have those who learn very easily and those who struggle.”

GSM: Did one or more teachers profoundly impact you as a student?

MN: “I had one teacher, Judy Newman, my fourth grade teacher. This was back in the day when you had 40 kids in a classroom sitting in straight rows, but she took us on special trips, we grew plants outside, and did so many great things.”

GSM: What causes teacher burnout or short stays for entry-level teachers?

MN: “I think the burnout issue is something dealt with on an individual basis. But even in a year or two of teaching you haven’t even gotten your feet wet. I remarked to a friend of mine earlier this year that I feel like I’ve become an excellent teacher only after teaching 30 years … finally! Teachers have to have curiosity and want to learn themselves.”

GSM: Is this the first year you’ve been awarded Teacher of the Year?

MN: “No. I was TOTY in ’92 at another school. I received the Presidential award where I went to meet the first President Bush. As far as I know, I’m the only teacher in South Carolina to have received the State Farm Good Neighbor Award. I was the Geology TOTY for the entire Southeast one year. ”

GSM: If you could make one suggestion to the superintendent of the school district, what might it be?

MN: “To find a better way to implement technology equitably across the district, and include teacher training.”

From North Myrtle Beach Middle School Principal Virginia Horton:

“I so appreciate Melany’s flexibility. Whatever you ask of her she does to the very best of her ability. She’s my science department chairperson and is the liaison between the district and the school. She guides my other science teachers. ... I can always count on her.”