Harding band director Melissa Voss runner-up for 2023 Excellence in Education Award

CEDAR RAPIDS — Harding Middle School band director Melissa Voss last month was named a runner-up for the 2023 Excellence in Education Award sponsored by the Iowa State Education Association.

Voss was chosen from a field of top educators nominated by colleagues, students, parents and community members because of the difference she makes in the lives of her students, according to a news release from the Iowa State Education Association.

“This award is truly about recognizing the educators who work hard daily and rarely get the recognition they deserve,” said Mike Beranek, president of the Iowa State Education Association, which works to promote, advance and protect public education and the education profession.

“The nominations we receive are a testament to the dedication and compassion educators have for their students and the communities in which they live. Educators go above and beyond to help shape the lives of the students in their care,” Beranek said.

Voss is a “beloved middle school teacher” who finds unique ways to meet her students where they are and nurture their creativity and talents, according to a news release from the Iowa State Education Association.

Last fall, Voss worked closely with a researcher from the University of Iowa and a creative technologist on a multiweek residency to help children recognize how their body, behavior and brain are connected, and how they can learn to control their own mental state.

The ME Residency — which stands for mind, meditation, music, exploration, electricity and enhancement — was aimed at making connections between brain science, mental well-being, music and technology through a series of workshops through a unique hands-on experience.

Students wore a neurofeedback headband and made music with their brain waves with software developed by researchers. The headband measured the electrical activity of brain waves and the software converted that information into music.

The goal was to give children the experience of observing their own brain activity and to try out strategies like deep breathing, visualization and muscle relaxation to change their mental state in a captivating and creative way.

The project involved many extra hours of preparation and learning by Voss and her students. After years in the field, Voss still looks for new and innovative ways to excite her students and elevate their interests and skills. She is a lifelong learner and relishes the challenges and rewards in her profession.

“It’s clear that Melissa’s compassion, dedication and heart all combine to make a tremendous impact in her student’s lives, and we applaud her achievements,” Beranek said. “The Excellence in Education Award celebrates educators like Melissa who are invested in the lives of their students and go beyond what is expected to make an exceptional experience for them.”

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The 2023 Excellence in Education Award winner is Cedar Falls High School band director Kyle Engelhardt. As winner of the award, Engelhardt also is the Iowa State Education Association’s nominee for the National Education Association Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Runners-up for the Excellence in Education Award are Erin Frerichs, a teacher leader at Okoboji Community Schools, and Jane Gude, an elementary teacher at Spencer Community Schools.

Now in its 23rd year, the Excellence in Education Award honors educators around the state who make a difference in the classroom. Nominations are being accepted beginning Jan. 15, 2024, through March 1.

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