Melissa Licata impacts many elementary students with her innovative teaching ideas

As the GT (gifted & talented)/Enrichment Specialist on two elementary campuses, Melissa Licata looks for ways to make her teaching relevant to all students' lives at Carnahan and Evers Elementary. She developed and organized K.A.M.P. (Kids and Multiple Possibilities), an end-of-school week-long program held during the last hour of each school day. Every teacher offers a special topic that is his or her passion. Each student chooses a subject that is the most interesting – topics they wouldn't experience in a regular school curriculum – such as dance, digital photography, sports, etiquette, crafts or even preparation for babysitting!

Ms. Licata teaches GT classes for all grade levels on Carnahan and Evers Elementary campuses this year. Her imaginative lessons provide an environment that is engaging and conducive to learning. She plans her daily instruction with all learners' needs in mind and incorporates multiple learning styles, higher order thinking skills and technology into her lesson plans. For instance, a group of first and second graders was studying idioms and using the computer and technology to generate illustrations of the literal and idiomatic meanings of their sayings. She is fostering a very mature understanding of language in very young people!

When her students were studying forms of government and she realized they were particularly interested in the monarchy, she changed the course of the final product so that each student created a kingdom in which he or she was the monarch. The most innovative projects and reports during the year are posted or displayed in her hall. The culminating activity for students is an ALPHA night which allows them and their families to explore every aspect of the studied topic: food, culture and multiple activity stations.

Ms. Licata focuses on the strengths of each child and her goal for each one to be the best that he or she can be. Her leadership roles have touched many lives.