Melissa Bryant is a fourth grade math and science teacher at Stanton Elementary School.

Ms. Melissa Bryant has been teaching for eight years – first in New York City before coming to DCPS to join the Stanton Elementary School staff three years ago. Ms. Bryant has always enjoyed working with children, but it was only after she graduated with a degree in journalism that she realized that teaching was the career for her. She says, “I decided to give teaching a try and haven’t looked back. Teaching is something that ignites a fire in me.” At Stanton, Ms. Bryant is the lead for student and family engagement, helping to manage all family engagement projects including the Academic Parent Teacher Teams, home visits, and the Parent Teacher Organization.

When asked to describe her teaching style, Ms. Bryant is straightforward: “No excuses. I know that my students have a lot of obstacles to overcome, but they can’t use that as an excuse to not learn, or to not come to school and try their best. I would like to think that I send the message to my students that I care about them, and I will work with them no matter where they are, but they have to come in ready to work hard.”