Melissa Tracy – 9th-12th Grade AP Human Geography, AP African American Studies, Food Studies, and Career and Technical Education at Odyssey Charter School – Wilmington, DE
Melissa is a National Board-Certified social studies educator in Wilmington, Delaware, at Odyssey Charter School, an innovative and diverse dual language Greek school. An educator for 16 years, Melissa currently teaches A.P. Human Geography, AP African American Studies, and a Food Studies CTE Pathway. Her students have a hydroponic learning lab in their classroom as well as traditional raised garden beds and have donated over 5,000 pounds of fresh produce to individuals in need. Melissa is a teacher adviser for Girls Grow Greens and the Delaware Youth Environmental Summit (YES!). Melissa is also the KN-12th grade garden coordinator and co-leader of the Odyssey Green Team. Under her leadership, Odyssey earned an Eco-Schools Green Flag and a National Green Ribbon. Prior to teaching in Delaware, Melissa taught in India, Poland, and Thailand. Melissa earned a B.A. in history from Tulane University, an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction (social studies) from the University of Delaware, and an M.A. in United States history at Villanova University as a James Madison Memorial Foundation Fellow. Melissa is a 2021 recipient of a Delaware STEM award, a 2020 NEA Global Learning Fellow, a 2019 Gilder-Lehrman Teacher History Teacher of the Year (DE), and the 2021 Delaware Charter School Teacher of the Year. A 2019 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, Melissa participated in an expedition to the Galapagos. A proud Delaware educator, Melissa is highly passionate about food justice, global studies, and student voice.