“I work here, I live here, I go to church here,” Melissa Hardesty Weber said. “I really enjoy this community.”
As a resident of La Porte for 20 years, Hardesty Weber appreciates the city and its people. With two of her own sons going into their eighth grade and senior years in La Porte Community Schools and her own work throughout the school corporation, Hardesty Weber particularly cares about the city’s children.
Hardesty Weber is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Mild Disabilities who works with students of all ages with various degrees of hearing loss through La Porte Community Schools’ special education cooperative.
“I meet with students individually and in small groups and work with teachers on how to use technology to give students better access to their hearing environment,” she said.
Hardesty Weber has been working in special education to ensure that students receive equal access in the classroom for the past 16 years. Prior to this teaching position, Hardesty Weber taught in the same department for Michigan City Area Schools for five years.
In both school districts, Hardesty Weber’s main priority has been educating the students and people around them, whether that be peers, teachers, or parents. She wants each and every student to be happy, healthy, and productive in their futures.
“I’ve had some of my students go on to graduate college and do wonderful and amazing things. I’ve had some of my students not go to college and do wonderful and amazing things,” she said.
Nothing warms Hardesty Weber’s heart more than watching her students do just that.
“Most of my students, I have from preschool to 12th grade, so I get to watch the whole evolution of them.”
Watching students grow, overcome obstacles, and learn more about the English language has also been one of Hardesty Weber’s favorite parts of the job. Even though understanding specific communications can be hard, that does not intimidate any of her students.
“Idioms, sarcasm, and just everyday language can be hard, but I love watching my students grow with that and pick it up,” she said.
Hardesty Weber graduated from Wheeler High School in 1996 and went on to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education at Ball State University, as well as her master’s degree at Purdue University Northwest.
The knowledge she received from her education, specifically at Ball State University, has continued to help her in her teaching position today.
“The degree from Ball State offers so many more things that you have in your toolbox to help kids later,” she said.
In her free time, Hardesty Weber loves to be outside in her backyard at the poolside with a book in her hands. She and her husband also share some common interests.
“My husband and I love to watch comedy and baseball,” she said. “We’re fans of the Detroit Tigers.”
Hardesty Weber lives by two crucial pieces of advice given to her by her father, and she hopes everyone will take them into account.
“Life isn’t fair, so you have to live with it,” she said. “And it’s true - life isn’t fair. You can either dwell on it or keep going.”
While living your life, Hardesty Weber said to make sure you are enjoying it.
“Another piece of advice is if you can’t have fun, stay home. Go out and have fun in your life."