Melissa Bagneris is a kindergarten teacher at Washington Elementary STEM School in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana where she is an active member of the school-wide positive behavior initiative system. She has been a participant teacher, as well as a lead teacher, in both the TAP and KAP summer readiness programs, and previously served as a remediation teacher for kindergarten through second grade at Ossun Elementary in Lafayette, Louisiana. She earned her bachelor's degree and state certification in early childhood education from the University of Louisiana. Melissa was voted 2020 Teacher of the Year at Washington Elementary STEM School, where she will begin her 12th academic year in August.