When the final bell rings for the day and we all make our way home for the weekend, most of us don’t want to even think about school. After all we all  have other things we’d like to do than homework. Even the teachers like to get away from the school atmosphere. They work tirelessly every day for us but still have lives of their own outside of our school. Today we highlight one of those teachers; Mrs. Melissa Gill.

Mrs. Gill has been at Canyon Vista on and off since 2006, where she started as Science and Texas History teacher. Mrs. Gill also taught French. Six years ago, Mrs. Gill moved to Hawaii for 3 years but came back to teach Math and now Texas History and World Cultures.

“I love it. I’ve made some very close friends and enjoyed watching students achieve their academic goals,”  Mrs. Gill said when asked  if she enjoyed teaching here.

Speaking of teaching, Mrs. Gill had never wanted to be a teacher. As a “free spirit”, Mrs. Gill worked selling clothes in St.Joseph, Missouri. There she met the Head of the Early Childhood Education. They sparked a conversation and Mrs. Gill learned what her job was. The woman handed Mrs. Gill her card and told Mrs. Gill that she  should go to work in the public school system as a teacher aide. Mrs. Gill loved the idea and went back to college to get a degree.  Now Mrs. Gill teaches here where she believes that should students are in charge of their own learning.

“It’s more meaningful that way,” Mrs. Gill said.  

Two of her students shared their thoughts about Mrs. Gill’s teaching. Samantha Bui, a 7th grader, said  her classes are super fun and never boring to be in. Another 7th grader, Aditi Jakkani enjoys Mrs.Gill’s unique projects. “They are creative and fun. Especially the ones we get to color,” Jakkani said. 

“Teaching is a big part of who I am,” Mrs. Gill said. If she ever had to give up teaching Mrs. Gill would probably like to be a counselor and help kids understand their problems and help them have perspective. She grew up in Austin and received her education here at Canyon Vista  since the first year it opened. Though she’s moved around, Mrs. Gill has made her home here along with her husband, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army, and her kids, Cole, who attends Canyon Vista, Wren and Elle who go to school in Georgetown. She also has a dog named Raider!

Mrs. Gill gets up at 4:50 in the morning, because she works out before school. “I detest getting up that early, but I like to do a workout before getting to work.”  Contrary to the weekdays, she said she likes to sleep during the weekends.

Mrs. Gill is truly a loved teacher here at Canyon Vista. We may have not known much about her before, but now we do. She works out to be healthy, has a loving family, enjoys foreign movies, speaks French, was a Mustang herself and so much more.

The next time you see your teacher realize that they have more than teaching as their life. There could be so many interesting things in one’s past. You just have to find out.