Sand Creek High School special education teacher and graduation coach Melissa Jodway was presented the sixth annual WCC Bridge Award at Washtenaw Community College’s High School Partners Breakfast.
Jodway was nominated for the distinction of being the “Bridge to WCC” by WCC freshman Bryce Hildebrandt.
In Hildebrandt's winning nomination, he stated that Jodway "has been the foundation and key to many struggling students succeeding both academically and personally. Whether you simply needed help finding ways to study, or needed to find the motivation or reason to keep waking up in the morning, you could always count on Ms. Jodway to help.”
Jodway has built a 20-year career teaching in Michigan schools. She has taught special education at multiple levels of K-12 education and says she is continuously fueled by the unique potential found in each of the students she has the privilege to help.
“I think when you do what I do, and you love what you do, and you've been doing it for, you know, 20 years ... sometimes you go, and you don't really think about all the little pieces in the same respect, though I think our students need to be reminded that we are who we are because of them,” Jodway said.
Jodway exemplifies the best of special education teachers, who according to the State of Michigan, “evaluate students' academic and behavioral progress; supervises students in classrooms, school buildings and social-curricular activities; develops educational plans for individual students; and teaches desirable study, work and recreational habits by providing pupils with opportunities for which they are best suited.”
“She helped translate and explain to the best of her ability, and if that didn't work, she saw to it that I was provided sufficient accommodations that would help keep up with my peers,” Hildebrandt said.
He credits his ability to see a future for himself and him successfully completing his high school years to Jodway’s earnest commitment to her students’ well-being and futures.
“Some [students] go as far as considering her a second mom, because they can go to her for help, advice, comfort, or simply a second opinion on something that's been bothering them. If there's anyone that deserves an award for their resourcefulness, perseverance, and versatility in both professional and personal — or just, overall, anything — a struggling student needs to succeed, it is Melissa Jodway of Sand Creek High School,” Hildebrandt wrote.
For the first time in the history of the WCC Bridge Award, the nominator brought in their own award, one they had once received from Jodway’s son during an after-school study session.
“I have with me one of the greatest awards I have ever received in my entire life. This is a paper plane that I was awarded by Melissa Jodway's youngest son, Brady,” Hildebrandt said.
The carefully crafted, handmade award was given to Hildebrandt after the pair spent several years together during after-school tutoring sessions in Jodway’s classroom.
“It's one thing to earn the respect and trust of your superiors or your peers. But it is really special to earn the respect of a child,” Hildebrandt said.
Hildebrandt is currently majoring in Mechatronics: Robotics and Automated Systems at WCC and considering starting the first rocket industry-focused student club on campus.
Tags: Awards, High School Partners Breakfast, WCC Bridge Award