Melissa Starkey

I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. Over the years I had teachers that invested in us and built relationships, and also made learning fun- and I knew that is what I wanted to do.

After graduating from Henderson State University with my BSE in Social Science, I married my high school sweetheart and we moved to Louisiana. I taught middle school social studies at Cedar Creek School. I loved creating hands-on, arts-integrated lessons, as well as learning how to incorporate newer educational technology, such as SmartBoards and blogs.

In 2013 we moved back home to Arkansas, and I started my Masters Degree in Education (and next, my Educational Specialist Degree) at the University of Central Arkansas. In 2014, I began teaching at Morrilton High School. With my Educational Specialist degree I was able to offer my AP World and AP U.S. History courses as concurrent credit. In 2017, I was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award for Morrilton High School.

In all teaching positions I have been able to incorporate and use my love of music, whether it has been teaching french horn lessons, playing in ensembles and musicals, or sewing and mending uniforms. I love that I get to show young people that music is for life!

In 2018 I took the role of Program Advisor for Social Studies at the Arkansas Department of Education Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). I have presented professional development to teachers at the school, district, state, and national levels. My work at the state level, combined with having taught middle school history and high school history, led to my current role at CBC in August 2021. In this role, I get to share my passion for social studies AND education by preparing teachers for their future careers.

My husband, Daniel, and I are high school sweethearts who met in band and still play- he plays tuba, I play french horn. We have two dogs, Izzy and Bella.