“Servants’ hearts and a love for helping people – that’s having this profession,” said Melinda Malaski.
Malaski may appear to just be a sixth-grade teacher at Fegely Middle School, but she is more than just that.
In addition to teaching language arts, Malaski is one of the school's instructional coaches. Malaski works to support students and fellow teachers by visiting classrooms, engaging in teacher meetings, working on projects with students, and much more. The additional assistance Malaski provides is beneficial to teachers and students.
“It’s really an honor as well,” she said. “I’m grateful to have kids in my class and be able to see them again in eighth grade and help them in another class. Sometimes, you don't know your impact until long after they're out of your class and you see them being successful.”
Not only is it important for students to learn, but their educators must as well.
“I'm still learning, too,” said Malaski.
Malaski continues to expand on her education and practices by attending conferences.
“I love going to conferences. The Excellence in Teaching Conference in Notre Dame last year was one of my favorites,” said Malaski. “These conferences teach me best practices that are current and new strategies and ways to reach my students.”
Malaski also knows how important it is to form relationships with her students.
“If you don't have connections with your kids, they're not going to learn from you,” she said.
One way Malaski forms those connections with her students is through the Spark Kindness Club. The Spark Kindness Club is an afterschool club founded by Malaski and fellow Teacher Lisa Norman that originated after the COVID-19 pandemic. Malaski noticed how students weren’t very kind to one another once they returned to in-person classes.
“The Spark Kindness Club’s goal is to spread kindness throughout the building. We really have a message of spreading kindness wherever you go,” said Malaski.
Malaski not only spreads kindness throughout Fegely Middle School, but she tries to spread it throughout her community as well. Malaski continues to contribute to her community by serving as a third-grade faith formation teacher at her church, Nativity of Our Savior Catholic Church in Portage. Her philanthropic efforts don’t end there, as she is also a member of Tri Kappa. Being part of the sorority means she works to raise money for the Portage Community Chair in addition to her other service-based extracurriculars.
When she isn’t busy serving her community, you might catch Malaski at her favorite Fegely tradition: the Candlelight Inn dinner.
“It’s a lovely experience where you can just sit down and have a nice meal with students,” she said. “You have to get to know students as human beings and what they like and have real conversations with them.”
Building those connections and seeing the impact she has on her students are some of the reasons Malaski loves being an educator. Although it may take her some time to see her impact, it is apparent to anyone who meets Malaski that her work extends well outside of her classroom as she continues to serve her community and shape future generations.