Hailing from a family of educators, John Melandro is adept at building relationships and tailoring instruction to his third and fifth grade students’ needs at Tangier Smith Elementary School. Through his content mastery and passion for fostering student learning, Melandro grows student engagement, enthusiasm and curiosity about the world around them. Known as the “Magic Man,” Melandro turns everyday subjects into exciting adventures by engaging students with innovative approaches and ensuring that learning is an enchanting experience for everyone.
Melandro’s teaching methods center around building fundamental skills in critical thinking and problem-solving. The many diverse ways through which he reaches students include project-based learning, manipulatives, “think-alouds,” working in pairs and small groups, and incorporating culturally responsive tactics to ensure every student is valued, seen and heard. Students take responsibility for their learning and trust Melandro as a supportive guide who offers constructive feedback and closely monitors their progress for full understanding. Future-focused, Melandro partners with the district’s Career and Technical Education program to provide his students with real-life learning experiences from guest speakers working in the fields of barbering, cosmetology and the culinary arts. These methods have translated into consistently high student performance and growth as measured by NWEA and New York State assessments.
Equally committed to expanding his professional development and leadership skills, Melandro analyzes assessment results, creates data-driven action plans, and leads meetings through his involvement on the school’s data team as a grade-level data ambassador. He also has helped implement a new Character Education program in the school as a committee member, and created online learning opportunities as an NYS assessment prep resource for his colleagues. Melandro is a teacher mentor and active in PTO and BOE meetings, contributing to greater parental and community engagement in students’ educational journeys. His classroom is used by teachers throughout the district as a model for observation. Melandro earned his Bachelor of Arts in child study from St. Joseph’s College (now St. Joseph’s
University) in 2017. He also received his master’s degree in liberal arts from Stony Brook University in 2022.
Press Release: Mastic Beach, New York, Teacher Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award
