Melissa Miller, a National Board Certified teacher, currently teaches first grade at Franklin Elementary School in Franklin, Tennessee for the Franklin Special School District. A teacher for twenty years, Miller’s enthusiasm and passion have set the tone for learning whether teaching her students or sharing teaching strategies with adults. With experience teaching kindergarten through fourth grade, Miller’s students blossom into avid readers, math enthusiasts, and budding authors. Her classroom is knit together with mutual respect and love. Her influence spans far beyond the classroom as evidenced by her leadership throughout the school, district, region and state. Miller’s enthusiastic personality paired with her relentless pursuit of excellence sets her apart as a teacher and servant leader. Miller serves her school and district by hosting professional learning opportunities. She serves her community through homeless ministries and church leadership. She travels the US and to various countries as an advocate for education and wellness. Miller has the opportunity to inform education policy at the state level as a member of the Teacher Advisory Council with the Commissioner. Miller is constantly seeking new strategies that will improve her effectiveness and the effectiveness of her colleagues, which ultimately leads to exponential growth for the students. These innovative, differentiated practices have produced phenomenal gains for the students in her classroom, school, and throughout the district. Miller believes that what we do changes the world for the children that we have the great privilege of working with each day.

Miller holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Science in Administration and Supervision from Trevecca University.