Hatboro-Horsham Teacher Named PA Teacher of the Year Finalist

Hatboro … A Hatboro-Horsham School District teacher has been named among the best in Pennsylvania. Melissa Pierce, a third-grade English Language Arts teacher at Pennypack Elementary School, has been named a finalist for the Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year 2020.

The Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year Program recognizes excellence in teaching by honoring K-12 teachers in public education who have made outstanding academic contributions to Pennsylvania's school-aged children.

Pierce, a Hatboro-Horsham graduate, has been teaching at Pennypack for 15 years. “It’s extremely humbling and extremely flattering,” she said of the award. “It’s exciting to share with my family and colleagues. It’s wonderful.”

Going Above and Beyond

In her nomination for the prestigious award, Pennypack Principal Brea D’Angelo described Pierce as the kind of teacher parents would want their child to have. “When you walk into her classroom you are transformed into a world of true deeper learning,” she said. “She plans lessons that accurately depict the learners in her room, she connects with the community to enhance experiences for all students and her connection with each student is admirable.”

D’Angelo praised Pierce’s positive attitude, noting students genuinely feel loved and safe while in her classroom. She also applauded Pierce’s commitment to the school as she volunteers her time on almost every school committee and activity. “Her selfless nature has had such a positive impact on changing the mindset in the building. We are very excited at Pennypack to have such an incredible educator on staff and are super proud of her accomplishments thus far.”

Likewise Pierce said she’s thankful to have a principal who believes educational best practices are the ones tailored for each individual student and can’t necessarily be repeated year after year.

“I’m very lucky,” Pierce said. “She’s a big reason why I’m in this position.”

Pierce said she tries to bring an authentic approach to teaching and will go out of her way to engage her students. For example, recently while reading “The One and Only Ivan,” a novel about a gorilla that lives in a cage in a mall, she and her students transformed her classroom into an African jungle. They then imagined what it would be like to study real gorillas in their natural habitat and assimilate among them. Pierce then used the novel and the subsequent conversations to teach students about the work of American primatologist and conservationist Dian Fossey and broach issues including animal rights and conservation. All of it was done to help students connect to the material they were reading in a deeper way.

“If it means I have to dress up in character, or if it means I have to decorate my classroom into a jungle, or make up a song, I’ll do it to keep them engaged,” Pierce said. “When they’re interested, they learn more.”

Students also choose the individual books they read so they feel passionate about the material, which can be a challenge for Pierce. “It’s hard. It’s easier to have kids do the same thing. It’s a lot of work time and effort at home late at night creating lessons for each kid, but I’ve seen them start to own their education. We’re seeing them learn more with choice.”

Sharing Her Knowledge

Pierce joins an esteemed group of past Hatboro-Horsham finalists including Lynn Silber, Diane Heitzenrater, Lori Gallagher and Nicole Miletto. She said they individually have contacted her to congratulate her on the award and have already begun comparing teaching styles and practices. She’s also been in contact with many of the other state finalists via social media, so they can learn from each other.

“It’s not every year that something like this happens,” said Pierce. “I’m excited to talk to other educators about it.”

Moving forward Pierce plans to continue challenging herself professionally and hopes to spread her educational philosophy with others. She’d like to begin working with students of different ages and levels of education, as well as exchange ideas with colleagues during professional development.

“I’m excited to motivate my colleagues,” she said, “and get them out of their comfort zones.”