She teaches students in short and long term care at Slate Canyon Youth Center for Slate Canyon Academy. Melanie is constantly seeking ways to improve educational opportunities for youth in this setting - serving young people with a wide variety of educational abilities and needs. She strives for excellence and expects it from her students. She does this in myriad ways and with creativity and passion. No opportunity for learning is too small or off limits. Melanie teaches history, but she also does everything else. She collaborates with outside resources so students may participate in unique educational programming such as Film Spark, bicycle repair with the Bicycle Collective, music lessons (guitar, drums, and piano), art, woodworking, and screen printing. She is an integral part of the student's support teams, attends their team meetings and ensures students, their families and teams are aware of academic progress, needs, and accomplishments.