“I’m So Grateful to Love What I Do”: Nibley Elementary’s Teacher of the Year
In her 20th year of teaching, Melissa Houser has been chosen as Nibley Elementary’s 2025-26 Teacher of the Year for being an outstanding educator. Her efforts go beyond the classroom in more ways than one, as she also serves as the safety specialist for the school.
She loves that her job is a very service-oriented career, as that's what motivates her to come every day. For Melissa, it’s all about building relationships with her students. “A strong relationship makes a difference in their attitude and their ability to learn,” she described. “It's very rewarding.”
After being able to stay home with her kids for 13 years, Houser returned to teaching at Nibley Elementary where she has been ever since. “I love the Nibley community,” she shared. “I love building relationships with parents and kids and siblings.”
From supportive parents to her amazing colleagues and administrators, she’s grateful for all of the great people who surround her at Nibley Elementary. “This is a great place to teach,” she added.
She spent most of her earlier years teaching second grade. But two years ago, she decided it was time for a change for her own personal growth, and transitioned into teaching the upper grades. Next year, she is excited to return to teaching fifth grade.
As the Safety Specialist, Houser does a safety section of the school newsletter, runs safety drills, and attends district, county, and state meetings. Nibley Elementary Principal Cindy King describes the “countless hours she puts into managing complex safety concerns for everyone—students and staff alike.”
“Her consistent respect and genuine appreciation for everyone in the building make her an invaluable member of our school community,” says Principal King.
Houser enjoys working as the Safety Specialist, as it gives her an opportunity to be a leader while still working with kids, which is what she loves most about being a teacher. “I'm not ready to step away from kids,” she says. “I don't know that I ever will be, really, because I love being in the classroom.”