About Me

My name is Melissa Motes. This is my second year at Barton Academy. I was a teacher at Causey Middle School from 2001-2021. I previously taught at Baker Middle School (2000-2001). I have 23 years experience teaching ancient World History.

I graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. of Education - Social Science. I have a Master's in Education - Curriculum & Instruction - K-12 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) from Concordia University-Portland.

Professionally, I have been selected as a member of the Teach Vietnam Teacher's Network in Washington DC in 2003, selected as one of twenty five educators to represent the Southeast in Boston, MA, by the U.S.S. Constitution Museum in 2002, and received a grant from the Mobile Arts Council to attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Teacher Institute in Cleveland, OH in 2003.

In 2012, my class received a grant for the Alabama Arts Council to have an artist in residence to integrate the art of puppetry into the social studies curriculum through Arts in Education. In 2017, I was selected to attend the Multi-Alliance Leadership Institute in conjunction with the Alabama Geographic Alliance.

In 2020, I was selected to attend the George Washington's Mount Vernon Teacher Institute (postponed because of COVID-19. I was also selected to attend NCTA Alabama 2020: Connecting Students to East Asia with Images, Maps, and Texts (through ZOOM).

I have been involved with NCSS (National Council for Social Studies) since 1998. I have served on their Membership and Awards Committees and as a proposal reviewer for several years.

I have been involved with the Social Studies Council of Alabama as a member of their advisory board.

In 2016, I became a National Geographic Certified Educator.

In 2018, I was selected to be a teacher reviewer for National Geographic's Safari Live Educator's Guide. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/channel/nat-geo-wild/safarilive/

I have received 17 different Educator Certifications. All of the badges for those certifications are located here.

When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling and experiencing new cultures. I also enjoy reading, volunteering, watching tv, listening to music, and training for marathons!