My name is Melissa Johnson and I am the Pre-K teacher of the Fish Room at Stix Early Childhood Center! 

I grew up on the Illinois side of St. Louis and come from a large extended family scattered around the Metro-East and southern Illinois area.  I'm the second of four in my family with an older sister and a younger brother and sister.  Both of my sisters are also teachers! 

I graduated from Cahokia High School where I was very involved in activities: Student government (class secretary), head of prom committee, Yearbook Editor, Scholastic Bowl, Youth Mind and Engineering Team, Spanish Club, and playing soccer.  I recieved an Associates in Fine Arts Degree from Southwestern Illinois College and continued my education at Harris-Stowe State University where I played on the women's soccer team and earned my Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Social Sciences.  While earning my degree I held student-teaching placements at Cahokia High School, Marian Middle School, and Carnahan High School (SLPS).  

After graduation I worked in University City School District as a substitute and as a long-term substitute at Julia Goldstein Early Childhood.  I have also worked at a private early childhood facility working with infants-3 year olds and taught social students in alternative learning classrooms for students in Riverview Gardens and Hazelwood School Districts before finding my "home" at Stix.  While at Stix I have worked both special ed and gen ed teacher roles of the inclusion classroom, general education, and integrated classrooms.

This is my 7th year as a Pre-K teacher at Stix ECC and I'm so excited to see what this school year will bring! 

Outside of teaching I enjoy doing yoga, traveling (especially to visit friends in Nashville and Chicago!), going to concerts, hanging out with my family, and playing with my dogs, Fallon and Dakota.