New Teacher Feature: Flatonia’s Melissa Baugh

As the school year gets underway, we’re profiling a new teacher at all five public school districts in Fayette County. Next in the series is Melissa Baugh who is a new high school teacher at Flatonia ISD.

Baugh graduated from Hallettsville High School in 2003 and has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Mathematics from Texas State University. She then moved to Houston to teach and would go on to teach in the Houston area for 13 years. During that time he met her husband Chris there and they now have a son who started Pre-K in Flatonia and a daughter who will start Pre-K next year.

A move from Houston to Flatonia to teach may seem quite different, but Baugh always knew she wanted to be closer to home. “We wanted to raise our children in a small town and close to family. My sister, brother-in-law, and their two daughters live in Flatonia and with us hearing good things about the school district we decided to move here,” said Baugh.

Baugh teaches geometry, math models with applications, pre-cal and calculus. Subjects many high school students might consider the hardest but Baugh on the other hand said, “I have always loved math since I could remember and love helping others learn how to solve problems.”

Baugh said she wanted to be a teacher because she wanted her workday to be exciting and different each day. “I feel that being a teacher you might not always have exciting days but they are always different. I enjoy helping the students learn and helping them realize that math doesn’t always have to be boring and hard, “ said Baugh.

Along with helping her students find the fun in math Baugh herself is a mix of emotions. “I am excited because I have always wanted to work at a small school where I got to know who my students were and got to have them multiple times throughout their high school days and I want my children to see how I enjoyed going to a small school and knowing most of the students and teachers. Plus I would be at the same campus/building as my kids,” said Baugh.

“On the other hand, I am scared and nervous because it is a small school. Everyone knows everyone, higher expectations, more eyes watching, if you mess up everyone will know, and because instead of teaching one or two preps at a larger school I am now teaching four and two that I have never taught.”

Question: Would you rather play at the beach or in the snow?

Answer: “The beach! Love the warm weather!”

Question: Who’s your role model and why?

Answer: “I really don’t have one particular person as a role model. I feel that I love the strengths and weaknesses of all the people around me because that’s what makes them who they are.”

Question: What is your favorite hobby?

Answer: “I also wouldn’t say I have a favorite hobby but probably anything to do with being outside.”

Question: What is your favorite type of food?

Answer: “My favorite type of food would probably have to be barbecue but I eat more Mexican food than anything.”

Question: What is your favorite animal and why?

Answer: “My favorite animal is a dog. Why? Because that’s the only animals I have now and I treat them like humans. They are inside dogs, sleep in my room, and are true companions.”

Math may be about numbers and equations but what it comes down to is the right teacher to teach you how to solve the problem and Baugh is just that.