Melissa Elliott

Melissa Elliott earned her BA in Biology and Education from Elmira College. She is currently working on her MSEd in Biology Education from University at Buffalo. In the classroom since 2017, Ms. Elliott began her science teaching career in Nashville, TN as a middle school computer science teacher. She then transitioned to teaching Biology after moving back to New York. Ms. Elliott currently teaches Regents Living Environment at North Tonawanda High School. Ms. Elliott is an advisor of Science Olympiad and ECO Club. She works with professors at University at Buffalo to engage students in a metagenomics project where students sequence and analyze the DNA of bacteria within the watershed. Ms. Elliott also works regularly with Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper and Niagara River Greenway to engage students in restoring and protecting a wetlands nature preserve near the high school. Ms. Elliott also serves on the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee within her district. Last year Ms. Elliott was selected as a participant of the Shipboard Science Workshop onboard the Lake Guardian, where she participated in the food web assessment of Lake Ontario. Ms. Elliott hopes to incorporate social and environmental justice education into the curriculum as well as curriculum related to our watershed. Outside of school, Ms. Elliott enjoys engaging in agility and disc training with her dog and spending time with her family and friends. As a NYS Master Teacher, she is looking forward to opportunities to collaborate with other teachers to deepen her content knowledge and pedagogical practices.