Johnston Reporter

Clayton High's Melinda Eason has been recognized as the Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) Certified Employee of the Month for November 2024. With 23 years in education, Mrs. Eason has served in various roles, including regular and special education teacher, and currently works as a student advocate on the Student Services Team.

Mrs. Eason shared insights into her career choice and teaching philosophy through a series of questions. When asked why she chose teaching, she said, "Teaching was an easy career choice for me. Seeing the positive change in students, especially those who may not follow a traditional path of learning, is what makes it all worth it."

Reflecting on her experiences in education, she stated that her profession taught her that everyone deserves an opportunity to earn their high school diploma regardless of their background or experiences. She emphasized the importance of advocacy in creating opportunities for students to achieve their goals.

In her role as a student advocate, Mrs. Eason focuses on helping students overcome barriers to success and celebrates even small victories with them. She plans to continue learning about student success and ways to support students facing challenges such as trauma or insecurity.

Mrs. Eason highlighted the significance of building relationships with students: "Students need to feel that they can have trust in the supports we are willing to provide them." Her future goals include attending professional development sessions to stay informed about new studies and strategies that could benefit JCPS students.

For those considering a career in education, Mrs. Eason advised focusing on direct interactions with students rather than external opinions: "It is easy to be distracted by the outside voices and opinions, but ultimately what we do each day with students is what matters."

###