Serenati Melcher Joins Kindergarten Team at SFLS
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to welcome Miss Serenati Melcher to the kindergarten team during the 2022-23 school year.
Originally from Bemidji, Minnesota, Miss Melcher earned her degree in early childhood education from Saint Cloud State University. Throughout college, she worked as an assistant program manager at Kidstop Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota. After graduating in May, 2021, she served as an educational assistant in Mrs. Mckenzie Johnson’s kindergarten classroom at SFLS during the 2021-22 school year. She is thrilled to join the kindergarten teaching team at SFLS this fall after passing her praxis exam last summer.
Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Miss Melcher and her passion for early childhood and elementary education.
Tell me a bit about yourself and your family.
I grew up in Bemidji, Minnesota. I am the oldest of eight children, so there is almost never a dull moment in my family! I enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful trails Northern Minnesota has to offer. Itasca State Park is one of my favorite places to visit, as I love seeing where the Mississippi River begins.
How did you decide to pursue a career in elementary education?
I decided to pursue a career in elementary education because of my role as the oldest child in my family. I always strove to be someone my younger brothers and sisters can look up to, which helped me discover my love for children. Watching my siblings grow up over the years motivated me to study education and become a supportive role model for other children as I moved away to college.
Tell me a bit about your teaching style.
In my classroom I want to make sure the small things are celebrated every day–nothing is too big or too small! Creating a loving and caring environment is important to me, and it’s something I will never stop striving for. Positivity and encouragement are small acts that can go a long way, no matter how old you are!
What do you enjoy most about working with kindergarteners?
What I enjoy most about working with kindergarteners is that this is the age where many things are new and unfamiliar at the beginning of the school year. Breaking things down into their simplest form is necessary in order to help students succeed. As a teacher, it is rewarding to watch students grow in so many ways throughout the year–so much learning takes place through the hard moments and the exciting ones, and it’s fun to watch it all come together by the end of the year. I am reminded by my students to appreciate the importance of taking in the small things to help see the greater picture.
What excites you most about integrating your faith with your passion for education at SFLS?
What excites me the most about integrating my faith with my passion for education at SFLS is truly reminding students how much they're loved by God every single day. I love that I have the opportunity to share His grace and goodness that He provides towards all, no matter what! In challenging moments, I will continue to remind my students that God is always with them. This is something that is very special, and a great reminder with everything in life.
Favorite Bible verse:
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7
About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
At Sioux Falls Lutheran School, our mission is to develop capable, Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, we are committed to partnering with parents and the church to raise lifelong learners who use their gifts and the fruits of the Spirit, in faith, to touch a troubled world with God’s grace.