Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Kempton.
Hi Melissa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to become a teacher. My father did not graduate high school and education was not a priority for him however my mother was a kindergarten teacher and I wanted to one day follow in her footsteps. I would play school everyday even creating worksheets and quizzes for my younger sister. I distinctly remember my mother always saying “when you go away to college.” I actually thought everyone went away to college.
After high school I attended the State University of New York at Cortland where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Childhood Education Grades 1-6. I even had the opportunity to student teach in London, England which was an absolute amazing experience. I taught year 5 (fourth grade).
Here’s where it gets funny. My older sister also graduated Cortland two years ahead of me with the same degree. She then became certified in Secondary Mathematics Grades 7-12 because she had minored in math and happened to have enough credits. So I thought I might as well do the same thing. So I stayed at Cortland an extra semester to become certified in Secondary Mathematics Grades 7-12. That summer we both worked together at the same school. Ms. Kempton and Ms. Kempton. The school was a residential treatment center for girls who most likely got expelled from their schools. In the fall there was only one math teacher needed so my sister stayed and I began substitute teaching.
My sister had gotten lucky and landed a job so guess who took over her position…me! Ms. Kempton to Ms. Kempton. One day in the fall of 2005 I received a phone call from Uniondale wanting to interview me for an elementary math academic intervention services position. The job was not probationary so I went into the interview hoping to get some experience interviewing. Turned out the pay was better than I expected and I was offered the job! My first real job in a public school!
I started working at Grand Avenue Elementary School that November. I loved it. Everyone was so welcoming and the children were so cute. My job consisted of mainly pushing into the classrooms prepping them for state tests therefore the workload was extremely light and often it became boring. I wanted to do the teaching.
On a random Thursday my director walked into my building, sat me down and told me I would be working at the high school on Monday. I wanted to die. Even though I was certified to teach high school I never actually taught it. I had NO IDEA what I was doing and to make matters worse I had to prepare them for a state exam in three months! I went home and cried. I knew I had to do it but I didn’t know how. I didn’t even remember the math! Luckily my director set up a coordinator to spend a week with me to help transition. Well that woman was everything. I pretty much student taught that week. I’ve never worked so hard in my life. I learned the math as I went along and I loved teaching at this level. When the year ended I begged my director to let me stay at the high school and she did 🙂
It’s amazing to see how much I’ve grown from teaching little kids to big kids. I just love the math. The hard math. I love to pick it apart, break it down and make it easier for someone who normally hates math. That’s what I live for! Since being moved to the high school I’ve coached Varsity volleyball and Varsity softball, even winning coach of the year in 2012 for softball. I started our school’s AP Statistics program and I have been an AP Statistics AP Exam Reader for the past seven years. That basically means I travel to a designated location to grade AP exams. I am also on the New York State Regents Rangefinding Committee. That is where we choose student responses that will be in the teacher Regents grading guide to help them.
Lastly, I am a New York State Master Teacher Emeritus recognized by the governor of New York. The program allows teachers to expand their knowledge and help other teachers. My Instagram is @KemptonMath.
When I think of my educational journey I am so proud of myself for how far I’ve come. I’m extremely lucky to absolutely love my job. I truly believe educating the mind is just as important as educating the heart. Connecting and forming relationships has always been important to me. From day one I aim to learn students names and get to know them personally. One thing I really encourage from the beginning is making mistakes. Many students are afraid of making mistakes. I tell them mistakes are how we learn and I’ve made a million mistakes in my life. I share a bit about my life and even share my anxiety and depression. I wish someone would have helped me in high school and pointed me in the right direction so I always hope I can reach a student that may need help. Each day we do math I repeatedly say it’s ok to make a mistake. It’s ok to ask any question. If you’re thinking it, someone else is thinking it. I love questions! Every now and again I will receive a thank you letter from a student. It reminds me why I work so hard. Even if I can’t reach every student I hope to reach as many as possible. My wish is to be the teacher that someone remembers when they’re all grown up 🙂
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not smooth. Transitioning from elementary to secondary was difficult. Every new course I taught I had to teach myself. My toughest struggle is my battle with anxiety and depression. Most people don’t know. I’ve tried to open up to my students about mental health because on the outside I look like the happiest person but I have my moments inside.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Math teacher
Specialize in Algebra 2 and AP Stats
I’m probably known for my dance parties on Fridays and my high energy. Oh and fun/cute classroom.
Most proud of:
-student getting 100 on Regents
-Coach of the year (Softball)
-New York State Master Teacher Emeritus
-AP Statistics AP Exam Reader
-New York State Regents Rangefinding Committee
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My children because I know they need me in this world and I love them so much.
Contact Info:
