Language Arts and theater arts educator Melissa Shelley garners a 2023 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teacher Award. Photo credit: Gruver High School

Our nation’s students are fortunate to have dedicated teachers working diligently to improve their progress in school. One of these is Melissa Shelley, a Language Arts teacher and performing arts instructor from Texas. She has garnered a 2023 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teacher Award.

Melissa teaches English and Theater at Gruver High School in the small town of Gruver. Since she has taken over the theater program there, she has singlehandedly re-established the theater program and conducted fundraisers for her productions. One way she has done this is by creating “Night of the Arts,” an evening that brings the school and local community together and awakens a passion for the arts in her small, rural town.

Melissa has a global goal in mind when she organizes her courses and her theatrical productions. “My mindset when I teach my subjects is to help students understand themselves, their world, and their place in that world,” explains Melissa. “That is my goal every day I step into my role as an educator, and I am honored to have the opportunity to do it,” she continues.

Melissa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sports and Exercise in 2009 and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2012, both from Texas Tech University.

Humanities Texas presents annual statewide awards to encourage excellence in teaching and recognize classroom teachers who have made exemplary contributions in teaching, curriculum development, and extracurricular programming. This year, over 600 teachers from all over the state were nominated for this prestigious award, and only 15 were selected as winners. Each winning teacher will receive $5,000 for personal use and an additional $1,000 will go to their school to buy instructional materials related to the humanities.