By ROBERT DEFRANK

SHADYSIDE — Melanie Haswell is one of the figures moving the community forward in education and leadership as a teacher for Belmont County Juvenile Courts and as a teacher and Shadyside village councilwoman.

Haswell is a teacher for any students in grades 5-12 that are sent to her from the surrounding schools in Shadyside, Martins Ferry, Bridgeport, Union Local and Barnesville.

“My job is to catch students up on their credits if they’re behind and get my seniors that have graduated with a diploma, also to give them encouragement to succeed,” she said.

She is involved with the Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary and the Shadyside Lady Civics, as well as the organizer for the Shadyside Sharing Tree. She serves as a village councilwoman for Shadyside.

Haswell is also on the committee for Noah’s Playground.

“This playground was in honor of one of my first graders, Noah Brown, who tragically lost his life,” she said, referring to the 6-year-old killed in a lawnmower accident in 2016.

Haswell is divorced and has three children and six grandchildren. She also has one “fur baby” that is part of the family.

She would tell a young woman starting out in her field to proceed with passion.

“My first piece of advice would be to absolutely love what you do. If you choose the teaching field, go into your classroom every day with passion, ready to empower the future and impact your students with all you have to offer them,” she said. “You should make such a statement that they all want to be teachers with superpowers.

“As a teacher, we all know this is not a field that will make you rich with money, however; it will make you rich with knowing you have the ability to make a difference in students’ lives. I go into my classroom every day with a smile and sometimes a song to brighten their day. However my singing has a lot to be desired but it puts a smile on my students’ faces,” she said.

“There are some days when you just feel defeated. When you’ve tried everything to help them and you still feel like you just couldn’t get through to them,” she said. “I came from 33 years in the first grade to this challenging yet rewarding job. I get students from the Sargus Detention Center, students who have truancy charges against them. Some of my students are on probation,” she said, adding other students simply need a “boost” to finish their classes.

“I try to motivate them as much as possible,” Haswell said, noting something as simple as a smile or a pat on the back can make a difference. “Kids need positive reinforcement.”

She said this is particularly important today, when there are so many negative roads to go down.

“I guess my best advice for our young women who want to choose the teacher field: have a heart for students of all ages and all types of lifestyles. Always have the passion and desire to make a difference.”

Haswell said it was also important to surround yourself with teachers who have similar good attitudes.

“I’ve done this job for 39 years total, and I still get up every morning at 4:45 a.m. and prepare for a new day.”

She said a valuable lesson is how people use their time.”Time does fly, as the saying goes. Spend your time bringing joy and happiness to people who make you happy. Those people would be my students.”

She also noted the evolving role of women in the field, pointing out they can advance their stills to become a principal, superintendent or any high-level leader.

“There is a definite rise in female educators who have fulfilled these positions in our Ohio Valley,” she said, adding that she was honored and humbled when the people of Shadyside elected her to the village council. She said women have taken up more and more responsibilities outside the home, whether in politics or business.

As a woman educator, she sees numerous bright spots in the Ohio Valley, particularly in the diligent and compassionate people from a culture that faces adversity.

Haswell lives by numerous mottos and quotes, including: “My teacher gave me the best gift of all, believing in me.”