LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Melissa Gunsett

Position: Reading Specialist
School: Barberton Elementary West School
School District: Barberton City Schools
City, State: Barberton, OH

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Melissa Gunsett was nominated by her colleague, Shawna DeCola.

"I am proud to nominate Melissa Gunsett for the LifeChanger of the Year award," DeCola said. "The last thing Melissa wants is anything to take her time away from rolling up her sleeves and helping any teacher, tutor, aide, custodian, principal, coach or fellow reading specialist. When I first met Melissa, I taught first grade. She helped my team by having linear conversations at our meetings and missing her own prep time. Then, I wanted to gain more inspiration from her, and I taught across the hall from her for a few years when we taught second grade together."

"Melissa's momentum, passion, and eagerness to give her students as many multisensory learning opportunities in an hour, day, week, month, and year called my attention," said DeCola. "I have never seen anyone plan so intentionally. She naturally builds in differentiated supports so she can continue to offer student-centered approaches to learning every day. Even if she had many students who the work was too challenging for, she made sure everyone had what they needed to be successful. She meets students - and now, teachers - right where they are."

Ms. Gunsett is now working as a Title 1 reading specialist, and all of these qualities have transferred to the teachers. She is always ready to help any teacher, no matter how great their needs are, and her students never miss an ounce of her attention. Teachers have returned to in-person learning with needs that she goes out of her way to support.

"Her time management is unlike anything I have ever seen. She stays laser-focused and makes use of every minute of the day in school, " said DeCola. "You would never see her on her phone or doing something that was not for others. She also does all of these things without any attention drawn to herself. She is humble, a team player, and someone who is there for the district. Barberton is blessed to have her on the ground running in our schools each day. She inspires me every day I go to work, and at home!"

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Comments (6)

Karen Rummer Posted over a year ago

Congratulations, Melissa, on your nomination for LifeChanger of the Year!!!! It is so well-deserved! Best of luck!

Shawna Posted over a year ago

Melissa, It is evident I am not alone when I say it’s a blessing ti work alongside of you on the front lines of education daily! Congratulations on this well deserved recognition that a humble educator like you deserves.

Kendall Lawson Posted over a year ago

15 years ago I had the pleasure of having Mrs. Gunsett as my 2nd grade teacher. Thinking back to second grade me I remember how kind Mrs. Gunsett was and she always had a smile on her face. Some of my fondest memories in elementary school are from her classroom. I remember the treasure chest she always had and it always being filled with the coolest stuff. My absolute favorite memory is her letting us write our spelling words on the windows with window markers. Most of all what left the biggest impact on me was just how much she truly cared about each one of the students in her classroom. In early 2020 I had the opportunity to come back to Barberton City Schools and do some field work at East Elementary, because I am pursuing a degree in education. I got to spend some time in her classroom again. Being in her classroom brought everything full circle for me. Seeing how she did different things to meet everyone of her students needs amazed me. In a class of twenty plus children and her doing something different for each one to accommodate them and just showing how much she cared and how much passion she has for education was just so amazing to me. It reminded me of why I chose the path I did. Mrs. Gunsett instilled a love for learning in me in second grade. Thinking now of why I want to be a teacher I think of the children and I think of the people who impacted my life the most and helped me to get on this path and she is one of them. I will forever use her as a role model and try to model my classroom off of hers. I want to create a positive and kind atmosphere and teach children to love to learn like she did for me. She truly is an amazing educator. She truly is a life changer. She changed mine.

Jennifer Bruzda Posted over a year ago

Mrs.Gunsett is not only an incredible colleague she is, was and will be my son’s favorite teacher. Yes, she spent hours scouring eBay for treasure box items. But that’s not why he loves her. She spent the summer bargain shopping for used stools and chairs she could fix up and make comfortable. She was doing this way before “flexible seating” was even a thing. And my son liked having seating choices but that’s not why he loves her. Her energy and passion for learning sparked in the classroom and students were connecting their learning in all kinds of ways. But again, fun learning was not the whole story. At the end of the day, Mrs.Gunsett changed my son’s life because she believed in him. Every day in every way she spoke confidence and encouragement into him. She supported his efforts and celebrated the risks he took. Mrs.Gunsett fully understands that for some children, learning is a vulnerable process. The learner must feel safe and respected to really submit to the cognitive process. Mrs.Gunsett brings out the best in us all!

Patricia Schoeck Posted over a year ago

I had the pleasure of working with Melissa Gunsett for one year in 2nd grade and I was truly amazed at her teaching skills. She is patient, kind, motivating and innovative. She has a way of helping students see their full potential and encourages them to make use of their skills to problem solve and work through various projects. She is a hands-on- learning teacher which is highly beneficial in reaching students at all levels of performance. Her positive demeanor and the supportive attitude she has with her students is to be commended. She is willing to lend a hand other professionals and serve on committees to better the district. Barberton City Schools is full of wonderful, dedicated teachers and Melissa Gunsett stands out as one of the best!

Crystal Allen Posted over a year ago

There are not enough words to describe the impact Melissa Gunsett had on my child. Lilly had always been an exceptional learner from day one. She was given the opportunity to have Mrs. Gunsett for math studying a grade above her actual level. During that year, she gave Lilly excellent instruction and pulled for her to be seen and feel like the “genius” she actually is. Not only did we discuss the details of my child’s gift, but she took time to consider if Lilly needed to be pushed into a higher grade. Using her own personal time and talents to help us make the decision. The following year, Mrs.Gunsett was her second grade teacher. She opened doors to Lilly’s imagination we didn’t know existed. Melissa has a true gift and talent for seeing in our children, the potential we sometime miss. Her nurturing teaching abilities are far greater than she receives credit for. Because of Mrs. Gunsett, Lilly found a strength and confidence that was just hiding behind the surface. Melissa made the work she put into teaching our girl at a personalized level look effortless. Barberton City schools has a true gem with Mrs. Gunsett in their buildings. Our family can never express our gratitude enough to her for extending her stellar teaching and nurturing abilities towards our daughter. She truly is a Life Changer.