One of the longest tenured teachers at Solon High School, Melissa Hughes, is planning to re-retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Hughes taught multiple subjects over her 18 years at SHS, but mainly science and physics classes.
“Currently I teach general physics,” Hughes said. “In the past, because I’ve been here since 2006, I have taught Chemistry, Honors Physics and AP Physics 1.”
Hughes graduated from Kent State University in 1990 with two Bachelor’s degrees. She then started teaching, but later got her Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology at Kent in 2003. She worked originally at Cardinal High School in Middlefield, Ohio. Hughes taught physics and chemistry there for 16 years.
Hughes said her favorite memory teaching wasn’t a specific one– it was all of the time and memories she shared with her students over the years.
“I think just any time where I’ve been able to have a lot of fun with my students are my favorite [times],” Hughes said. “…Like the pirate treasure hunts in physics, or just any time where we’re just natural, laughing or we learn something.”
SHS Biology teacher Claire Stoltz said her favorite memories with Hughes were being able to work around her and with her in a team.
“My favorite memories are just teaching with her on a team,” Stoltz said. “Those moments that we have in our PLC’s, our after school meetings and just those times together when we were doing things as a team.”
Stoltz said Hughes’ best quality as a teacher is her caring, kindness and heart for her students.
“She cares very deeply and tries to do whatever she can to make them feel accepted in the classroom, as well as successful,” Stoltz said.
Stoltz said she loves Hughes and will miss the presence of Hughes at SHS due to the personality she has, and the person that she is.
“I’ll miss her fun spirit.” Stoltz said. “She is always one that’s willing to participate and go above and beyond, from things in our department, things with her Halloween costumes to her dressing up for her classroom and the kind of role of whatever she’s doing in her classroom.”
SHS senior Sal Miller agrees with the sentiment put forth by Stoltz and many others around SHS about Hughes. He currently has Hughes as a teacher and thinks she’s a fantastic one.
“She’s a funny and understanding person,” Miller said. “She’s overall a great teacher, and I’m lucky to have her.”
Hughes said she plans to spend her time after her retirement traveling around the world with her husband.
“My husband and I are looking to try and do some train travel across Europe,” Hughes said. “I also want to go see the whales out in Alaska, and then I want to follow them…over to the coast of Hawaii for their birthing, so that is one of the great things I’ll be doing.”
Hughes asked to put a final farewell message in this article to everyone who helped her or had her as a teacher.
“Thanks to everyone who supported me,” Hughes said. “Thanks to everyone for putting up with my crazy stuff, thanks to my students. That’s the part I’m going to miss the most.”
