Melissa Ryan Brings the Joys of Catholic Education to First-Graders At St. Thomas Aquinas School
Ms. Ryan’s hope for students in her class: “They learn that my classroom is a safe place full of love, that learning can be fun and engaging, and that hard work results in more fun time too.”
First grade is a pivotal year for young learners, during which the right foundations must be put in place to foster your child’s mental, emotional, and physical development. At our Osceola private schools, one of the teachers helping set students on the path to success is Ms. Melissa Ryan.
As a first-grade teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in St. Cloud, she provides a safe, welcoming classroom environment where students develop their early math and reading skills while also growing in their Catholic faith. As the recent recipient of the St. Thomas Aquinas Distinguished Catholic Educator of the Year, learn more about Ms. Ryan and her approach to engaging students.
Growing Up in the Catholic School Community
Ms. Ryan was raised in Merritt Island and attended Our Saviour Catholic School in Cocoa Beach along with her siblings. Going to a Catholic school played an important role in setting her up for success and allowing her to grow in her faith.
“I was always in an environment where I felt safe expressing my faith,” she says. “I liked not having to quiet that part of me like so many must do in public school.”
After graduating from college, she joined St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School as a first-grade teacher and has now been there for eight years. She loves being a teacher in the family-centered atmosphere of a Catholic school.
“We have a sense of community at our school. It is more like a family than just a normal work environment. I also get to bring the Catholic faith into my teaching and am able to dedicate time to God.”
Helping Young Learners Make Big Leaps Forward
Ms. Ryan loves helping students advance their reading and math skills, while also centering teachings around Christ to help build a moral foundation for students. She incorporates small-group lessons, hands-on learning, and student-led learning in her classroom.