Melissa Tesseniar
Bostic,NC
Summary
Dedicated Pre K Teacher with a strong focus on student-centered learning and professional development. Recognized for creating tailored instruction and fostering community partnerships, ensuring a supportive and engaging educational experience for all students.
Proactive and caring worker with 26 years of experience combined with communication strengths and good observational skills. Skillfully handles day-to-day activities while looking for opportunities to make a difference.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Preschool Exceptional Children Teacher
Rutherford County Schools
Carver Center, Spindal, NC
08.2025 - Current
- Developed engaging lesson plans to enhance student understanding and participation.
- Implemented classroom management strategies to maintain a positive learning environment.
- Utilized educational technology tools to support diverse learning needs and improve instructional delivery.
- Collaborated with colleagues to refine curriculum content and align teaching practices with district standards.
- Monitored student progress through assessments, providing timely feedback to foster academic growth.
- Established strong relationships with parents and guardians to promote student success and community involvement.
- Analyzed student performance data to identify areas for improvement and drive instructional decisions.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
- Differentiated instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring each student had an equal opportunity for success.
- Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
Pre K Teacher
Rutherford County Schools
Spindale, NC
08.2005 - 07.2025
- Developed and implemented engaging lesson plans aligned with state standards.
- Fostered a nurturing environment promoting social, emotional, and cognitive development.
- Collaborated with parents to support student progress and address concerns.
- Integrated technology into classroom activities to enhance learning experiences.
- Mentored new teachers in curriculum delivery and classroom management techniques.
- Assessed student performance regularly to tailor instruction for diverse learning needs.
- Coordinated community events to strengthen school-family partnerships and involvement.
- Led professional development workshops focusing on early childhood education best practices.
- Gave one-on-one attention to children while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
- Sanitized toys and play equipment each day to maintain safety and cleanliness.
- Promoted social-emotional development with interactive lessons on empathy, conflict resolution, and self-regulation techniques.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Boosted student engagement by incorporating hands-on activities and group projects into lesson plans.
- Fostered a love of learning among students by maintaining an energetic teaching style and incorporating creative, interactive elements into lessons.
- Consulted with parents to build and maintain positive support networks and support continuing education strategies.
- Participated in ongoing professional learning opportunities to remain current on best practices in early childhood education.
- Established strong relationships with parents through regular communication, enhancing family involvement in the educational process.
- Monitored students' academic, social, and emotional progress and recorded in individual files.
- Evaluated student progress through formative and summative assessments, utilizing data-driven methods to inform instructional decisions.
- Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
- Improved student literacy skills by incorporating daily read-aloud, guided reading groups, and independent reading time.
- Developed and implemented behavior management systems to maintain a structured and productive learning environment.
- Implemented differentiated instruction strategies for diverse learners, ensuring individualized support and success for all students.
- Enhanced classroom environment by creating visually appealing bulletin boards and displays, promoting a positive learning atmosphere.
- Collaborated with colleagues to develop interdisciplinary units, fostering a holistic approach to education.
- Worked with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress and recommend appropriate learning plans.
- Assisted and supervised 18 children through entire school
Security Officer
Tryon Equestrian Center
Tryon, NC
06.2014 - 2024
- Monitored facility grounds to ensure safety and security of guests and staff.
- Conducted regular patrols to identify potential hazards or security risks.
- Responded promptly to incidents, providing first aid and emergency assistance as needed.
- Assisted in enforcement of center policies and regulations to maintain operational integrity.
- Documented daily activities and incident reports for management review and compliance purposes.
- Collaborated with local law enforcement during emergencies to coordinate response efforts effectively.
- Greeted guests professionally and courteously to cultivate welcoming atmosphere while making safety top priority.
- Acted quickly during emergency situations to reduce opportunity for damage and injury.
- Patrolled and monitored premises in company vehicle, on bicycle, and by foot.
- Provided excellent customer service while addressing visitor inquiries or concerns related to facility safety or access control procedures.
- Prevented unauthorized access to facilities by enforcing strict entry protocols and verifying identification.
- Maintained a safe environment for employees and visitors through continuous risk assessment and threat analysis.
- Checked and verified photo identification prior to granting facility access.
- Checked identification of persons entering and exiting facility to eliminate unauthorized visitors.
- Reported suspicious activities and persons to law enforcement.
- Monitored and authorized entrance and departure of vehicles, cargo trucks, and visitors.
- Improved overall security by conducting regular patrols and monitoring surveillance systems.
Correctional Officer/Case Manager
Marion Correctional Institution
Marion, NC
06.2000 - 08.2004
- Monitored inmate activities to ensure compliance with facility regulations.
- Conducted regular inspections of cells and communal areas for safety concerns.
- Facilitated effective communication between inmates and staff to maintain order.
- Responded promptly to incidents, utilizing conflict resolution techniques to de-escalate situations.
- Maintained accurate records of inmate behavior and daily activities for reporting purposes.
- Implemented security protocols that enhanced overall safety within the institution.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop rehabilitation programs for inmates.
- Managed high-risk situations with professionalism and composure, ensuring the safety of all involved parties.
- Searched cells of inmates to identify and confiscate contraband and other prohibited items.
- Maintained inmate safety through vigilant monitoring of behavior and swift intervention during conflicts.
- Reduced instances of contraband by thoroughly searching inmates, cells, and common areas.
- Observed and supervised inmates throughout visits, meal time, recreation, phone calls, and showers.
- Escorted inmates to and from cells, court, hospitals, and medical appointments.
- Conducted routine and emergency head counts.
- Prepared, processed and maintained forms, reports, logs, records, and activity journals.
- Collaborated with fellow officers to maintain a secure environment for staff, visitors, and inmates.
- Prevented escapes by diligently inspecting perimeters, doors, windows, gates, fences, and other access points throughout the prison complex regularly.
- Tracked inmates through head counts, visitor logs, and scheduled activities.
- Maintained accurate records of inmate incidents or infractions using electronic databases or written logs as required.
- Improved communication between staff members by participating in daily briefings and sharing critical information about inmate activities.
- Implemented effective emergency response plans during crises situations, minimizing harm to staff and inmates.
- Ensured compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies governing correctional facilities.
- Enhanced facility security by conducting regular inspections and addressing potential risks.
Education
Bachelor of Science - K-6 Education
Warren Wilson College
Asheville, NC05-1995
Associate of Science - Education
McDowell Technical Community College
Marion,NC01-1990
Skills
- Patience and empathy
- Music and movement
- Curriculum planning
- Health and safety
- Parent-teacher communication
- Progress reporting
- Assessment strategies
- Child supervision
- Child development
- Fine motor skills
- Tactile teaching methods
- Artistic expression
- Motor skill development
- Gross motor skills
- Science exploration
- Special needs support
- Core concept teaching
- Social-emotional learning
- Language development
- Creative lesson planning
- Lesson planning
- Classroom management
- Activity planning
- Social skills development
- Student records management
- Adept at working with special needs children
- Positive reinforcement
- Special education
Certification
- Licensed B-K Teacher - 2027
Timeline
Preschool Exceptional Children Teacher
Rutherford County Schools
08.2025 - Current
Security Officer
Tryon Equestrian Center
06.2014 - 2024
Pre K Teacher
Rutherford County Schools
08.2005 - 07.2025
Correctional Officer/Case Manager
Marion Correctional Institution
06.2000 - 08.2004
Bachelor of Science - K-6 Education
Warren Wilson College
Associate of Science - Education
McDowell Technical Community College
Teacher of the Year 2020, 2025
Voted Pre-K Teacher of the year by my peers in 2020 and 2025.