Knowing that she wanted to enter the world of teaching as a kid, Melissa Knepp carried out a plan and achieved her dream.

Whenever Knepp was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, her answer was always to be a teacher.

“Yes, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t want to be anything else,” Knepp said.

She started out her goal by enlisting herself in the Ohio Army National Guard, knowing that after her service her college would be mostly paid for.

When Knepp served in the National Guard she helped work on Chinook helicopters. She was later deployed to Iraq for a year’s worth of time.

“I went to Kent State and earned my undergraduate completely paid for by the Army, and I also earned my master’s which was mostly paid for but not completely,” Knepp said.

After earning her undergraduate and master’s degrees, Knepp pursued her life of teaching. She previously taught at Life Skills School in Akron and taught on an Online school.

With an outgoing personality and an enthusiastic attitude, Knepp seems to be doing well as a new teacher at the high school.

“I am a very talkative person, so my students pretty much know everything about me,” Knepp said.

Knepp lives in Kent with her dog, Penelope. She teaches all levels of math and enjoys all of her students.

“I am not married and have no children, just my pit bull, Penelope.  I grew up in Hudson and graduated from Hudson High School in 2003,” Knepp said.

Her hobbies include running, kayaking, Zumba, kick-boxing, home improvement projects/renovations and reading. Her strongest subject is and always has been math.

In high school Knepp was in jazz band and played the trombone. She didn’t participate in any     sports but shared that she really enjoyed being in band.

“I’m a vegetarian and my favorite food is sushi,” Knepp said.

If she didn’t have a chance to be a teacher she said she would have been an actuary–a statistic checker for an insurance agency.

Knepp enjoys teaching and always has. She looks forward to the upcoming years of being in Stow.