Former journalism student Melody Senia finds true calling as Savannah schools educator

This is one of a series of articles on each of the five finalists for Savannah-Chatham County Public School System 2022-23 school year Teacher of the Year.

After a journalism internship during her last semester of college didn't turn out the way she wanted, Southwest Middle School Teacher Melody Senia decided to give teaching a shot.

Since taking that leap of faith, she hasn't looked back.

"I got interested in education because I felt like I was called to do this," she said. "I didn't graduate with an education degree; my bachelor's was in communications, but I was feeling unfulfilled. When I became a teacher, I feel like this is what I am good at and I feel I have accomplished something that was fulfilling."

Senia was named as one of five finalists competing for the title of the 2022-23 teacher of the year for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS). She will compete in a process that will involve classroom observations and panel interviews. A winner will be announced at the annual Gala on Feb. 11 at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront.

Read More: Savannah-Chatham County educator named Georgia Teacher of the Year

Cherie Dennis, a teacher of English speakers of other languages (ESOL) at Hesse K-8 School, was named as Teacher of the Year for 2020-21. Dennis held on to her title for 2021-22 because of the pandemic. Dennis is also serving as the teacher year for the state of Georgia.

Starting a new career

After graduating from college, Senia worked a job in the service industry, but wanted something more. Senia said after having some experience teaching Sunday school, she decided to apply for a teaching program at a university in the Philippines.

"When I was doing the program, I liked it," she said. "I was like, this is something that I can do and want to do it."

Senia, who is originally from Manila, the Philippines, got her first teaching job after she was recruited to teach English in Baton Rouge in 2008. She was in Louisiana for six years before coming to the SCCPSS district in 2014.

At Southwest Middle School, she teaches sixth-grade English and language arts. Senia said she likes middle school students because she is able to have more concreate conversations with them.

"I can still teach them and mold their behavior somehow and at the same time we can go back and forth with our ideas," she said.

Senia said since English is a second language in the Philippines, it was a challenge when she came to America to teach English to students. She said English in the Philippines focuses more on grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. She said America English is taught through reading, writing and literature.

More: Savannah Morning News Storytime: Teacher of the Year winner reads 'Giraffes Can't Dance'

In class, Senia is not afraid to share her Filipino culture with her students and gives her students an opportunity to share something about themselves. Each year, she assigns her students to share something about themselves in class like the students who have visited different places, such as Japan.

"I realized at that moment that it is OK to share with them that I am a Filipino," she said. "English is my second language. I will be saying some words incorrectly and it is OK if you want to correct me. I want to learn it, too."

Senia said the one thing she enjoys most about teaching is seeing her students in class each day and are engaged in their work.

"I think my greatest high is how can I present this lesson to them and they will not be bored," she said.

Meeting the need

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she felt like she was a first-year teacher again because virtual learning was new to everyone. Senia said she stayed on virtual teaching all year long and had virtual students.

She made sure students were logging in online and that learning is taking place.

More: After a year of online learning, Savannah-Chatham teachers expect to fill in education 'gaps'

She said she is touched when her virtual students stop her in the hallway and say they have learned so much when school was virtual.

"That is fulfilling to me because, even though you where online you learned something," she said.

Senia said if a student is having a hard time in class, she breaks down the task. An example she gave was a writing prompt and how she spends the whole class period teaching her students how to write a thesis sentence.

More: Salaries of the 100 top Savannah-Chatham Public School employees are greater than $100,000

Why Stay

Senia said she had friends who have told her to go to another to teach because the kids are better, but she decided to stay.

"I think about if I leave, who would teach these kids if all the teachers are moving to what we call a better school district," she said. "Who are going to mold these children? That is the main reason why I am still here because I feel sorry for kids who will be in the school district and they don't have a good teacher."

Senia said one day she hopes to maybe be an educator outside the classroom and also have a leadership role so she can be a resource to other teachers.

"I don't want to be so old in the classroom that I am not effective more," she said.

Senia said she was honored to be named as a finalist for the year and it gives her a sense of validation.

"I feel very honored and it's more of a feel validated because what I am doing is what I am called to do, otherwise why would I be in a Teacher of Year."

Bianca Moorman is the education reporter. Reach her at BMoorman@gannett.com or 912-239-7706. Find her on Twitter @biancarmoorman.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah-Chatham Teacher of Year finalist: Melody Senia, Southwest Middle