Melissa Kmetz’s journey to become Ohio’s Teacher of the Year started 31 years ago at a children’s hospital.
At age 12, she had a routine tonsillectomy. Complications followed, including postoperative bleeding. She was rushed to the hospital. It stopped and Kmetz returned home. Soon after, complications continued, only more severely. A total of 12 times over a span of weeks, each time the pain growing more severe.
After countless surgeries, Kmetz had to be life-flighted to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, where she was placed in a medically induced coma for 14 days. She came out of it and was placed on a feeding tube, where she remained for two months in the hospital.
Sick from her blood, infused with strong medications, her time in the hospital felt like being trapped in an immovable prison. During this time, she saw so many critically-ill children in the hospital, many of whom did not get to go home.
So when she was able to return home, she had decided on a career purpose; although the exact career path was still a mystery.
“I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life helping others since I’d been given that gift.” Kmetz said. “I just wasn’t sure how.”
At first, she thought her path would be medicine. Then Kmetz took a greater interest in education.
More than two decades later, she’s a third-grade language arts teacher at Lakeview Elementary school in Cortland, Ohio. On September 27, 2022, she was celebrated during a surprise assembly.
She credits her most incredible high school teachers, ones that went above and beyond to make sure none of her fellow classmates slipped through the cracks.
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“If a student didn’t have money for shoes, the teachers bought them. If a student couldn’t afford something for a sports team, they bought that with their own money, too. If a student didn’t have a way to practice, they picked them up,” Kmetz said.
She realized how she could make a larger difference in the lives of others as an educator. She went back to Youngstown State University for graduate school and in 2007 obtained a master’s degree in Education with a Specialization in Reading.
Kmetz believes kids are our best hope for the future, and being in a position where she can impact them and ensure they have the tools they need to be successful is such a privilege.
“I’m most excited about helping students to believe in themselves and the power of their voice.” Kmetz said.
As teacher of the year, her inspiration comes from having a larger platform that allows her to advocate for others and amplify the voices of educators.
Kmetz has had conversations with First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.She’s also met with local legislators and leaders of the Ohio Education Association, the National Education Association, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and the State Board of Education.
“I feel so incredibly positive about all of the people working to ensure our kids reach their full potential.” Kmetz said. “There are so many things going well in public education right now.”
She’s excited about the state’s focus on the Science of Reading and special attention being given to the mental health and wellness of students.
Last year, she was asked to provide testimony for Ohio’s House Bill 117, which would eliminate mandatory student retention under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
While standardized tests are important, Kmetz believes overtesting kids has become an issue. She’s also been asked to be on the Ohio Education Association’s Human and Civil Rights Committee in hope of ensuring equity for all students.
On school funding, Kmetz would change the way Ohio’s public schools are funded since public schools serve nearly 90% of the students in the state.
“We need to ensure we’re taking action to fully and fairly fund them. Only then can we be certain our students have the resources they need to be successful.” Kmetz said.
She’s also greatly concerned about educator recruitment and retention in Ohio because she said many are leaving the profession. And it’s a struggle to find highly qualified educators to fill those positions. She feels offering incentives is crucial.
And Kmetz believes education has taken a back seat to politics. She sees a great divide between the “red and blue” in the media that trickles into schools. A divide that shouldn’t be there.
“Our kids deserve the best in all of us. So, I would like to call on anyone involved in education to be “purple”, that’s what you get when the best in both sides (red and blue) work together to give our kids the best education possible!” Kmetz said.
She hopes her story shows that everyday people, when working together with other caring individuals, all can change the world.
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