Melody Nicholson’s goal is not to create future economists but to educate students on how to be successful citizens. Her efforts were recognized in January when she was nominated for Teacher of the Year.
“I’ve had a hard time with it because I don’t like recognition,” Nicholson said. “In my mind I’m the same as everyone else. It could have been anyone, so it’s a lot of pressure.”
To win Teacher of the Year, a teacher is first nominated by students then chosen by piers.
“Ms. Wenzel printed out the teachers replies and it was humbling,” Nicholson said. “Very humbling.”
As the nominee for MHS, and the district of McKinney, Nicholson has to interview and complete a portfolio that includes an application, a resume, and six essays.
Nicholson came from the corporate jungle to MHS five years ago after volunteering at the high school her husband works for.
“I’ve always had a heart for kids, and I’ve always wanted to show good morals and ethics,” Nicholson said. “After volunteering I started to feel a heavy burden to lay life skills for students to live with.”
After leaving corporate with a business degree, Nicholson came back to high school with the dream of teaching economics.
“As an economics teacher I can not only teach how the economy impacts lives but I can teach how to manage money and how to be a young adult,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson’s teaching style won her teacher of the year, but at MHS, she’s known for her money wall.
“I seek a regular classroom. The money wall is actually a table cloth of dollar bills that a North teachers wife found for us to use,” Nicholson said. “Students wander by all the time and are drawn in because of the wall, so I’ll always have the money wall.”
Senior Kassi Stephens chose to take regular economics because of Mrs. Nicholson’s reputation.
“The money wall is a really cool thing, and it’s really fun,” Stephens said. “Mrs. Nicholson’s really cool and she’s good at what she does, which is why I wanted to have her as my teacher. I can easily see why she won.”
Besides her students and peers, Nicholson’s greatest support comes from her family.
“When we were dating, my husband and I would always play 20 questions and one thing we always has in common was the desire to do something that benefitted other people,” Nicholson said. “I am inspired by my faith. We both saw a world with very little hope and we have a hard time settling for a society without hope for our son.”
Whether or not she continues to regionals, Nicholson has learned a lesson that will stick with her for the remainder of her teaching days.
“I’ve realized that the way I go about doing things is unique and that’s good. The extra money for supplies, all the late nights, it’s all worth it,” Nicholson said. “I saw a broken America. I could have stayed in corporate and seen a broken America for the rest of my life. Or I could have come here and live a life that’s helpful to others.”
by Hailey Kilgo
photo by Elliot Parkman
