[Story by Emily Hughitt]

Melissa Staggs has been a teacher for 13 years, since 2010, 10 of those being at Blanket ISD, where she is now a first-grade teacher.

“I started out in the cafeteria, then I worked as an aide in the special education classroom,” said Staggs. “Then my husband encouraged me to go to school and get my degree.”

Staggs said that she always loved working with kids, and that was the main reason she decided to become a teacher.

“I love seeing the light come on in their eyes when they get it. I love reading to them and watching them improve as a reader,” she said.

Staggs also said that she is excited that she gets to work with elementary students.

“I worked in Stephenville in junior high special education, and I really enjoyed it,” said Staggs. “But I knew I wanted to be with the younger ones.”

Staggs added that her favorite teachers growing up were Mrs. Ramphel, her first-grade teacher, and Mrs. McShan, her third-grade teacher.

“Mrs. McShan gave me a love for reading, and Mrs. Ramphel made me feel like I wasn’t lost, and I was a scared kid going to school for the first time, and she kept the fear at bay.”

Staggs said her favorite part of her job is seeing her students’ light come on when they learn something new. She added that she also loves it when her older students come back from high school to visit her.

Staggs is married to her husband Danny. They raised 3 boys, and 1 girl, and they now have 6 grandkids.