Math Teacher - JH - Cascade School District

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Admin

OFFICE HOURS

M-F 8am-3pm

PHONE

208-630-6057 Ext. 2520

melanie@cascadeschools.org

ms. melanie hamilton munson
Math Teacher - Junior High School

MY WHY

I love to “see” the light bulb moments with youth; it’s great to feel that overall sense of purpose.

MY BACKGROUND

I was born and raised mostly in Boise, Idaho. From gazing at the moon and finding the fascination at age four of our solar system, camping with my family and exploring the mountain terrain from horseback, growing up with a mother who was a journalism major and was frequently playing guitar and singing, a biologist for a father and a step-father that is an artist and former team roper had me learning by treating the environment around us as a giant lab full of observations. Through taking annual sailing trips with family to the San Juan Islands, constructing a food dehydrator to preserve my favorite fruits and harness the sun’s energy at age twelve, rockhounding with the Idaho Gem Club as a teenager, writing letters urging legislators to preserve a beloved birding area in north Boise from development, and continuing similar interests as an adult today, I have always been passionate about learning. I received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education K-8 with minor areas of emphasis in mathematics and communications/sign language. Previous employment has been working on the Nez Perce Mounted Scholars Program with fourth thru ninth grades in a year-round educational program evolving around the Appaloosa horse and Nez Perce culture via working with tribal elders, having a summer outdoor school setting up tipis, camping with horses and taking many trail rides with youth while using the natural world around us for study and promoting horsemanship skills. Through a NASA fellowship I then obtained a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction that involved travels to New Zealand, Isle of Man, and France to develop my final research paper. It was during my last year of graduate school that I met my husband. After working for a little over five years in Weiser at the Intermediate School and doing Gifted and Talented summer math and science school, I then moved with my husband to Cascade and have worked in fifth thru ninth grades since 2005 at Cascade Elementary/Jr.-Sr. High School teaching math, science and American Sign Language. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, summer and winter activities (especially hiking and water activities), playing violin with the McCall Chamber Orchestra and the Gravel Road Trio, and particularly spending time with family and friends. I continue to be an active and founding member of the Valley County Astronomical Society. I hope to promote growth and successfully make it through any upcoming challenges we face.

MY INTERESTS

I enjoy spending time with friends and family, water activities, hiking, exploring new places, travel, and playing the violin.