Melody Lockhart

Dayton Elementary, Dayton, PA

Melody’s staff says there is something special about working at Dayton Elementary School. They care about the children they serve. They take pride and a personal interest in the student's well-being. She goes out of her way to make sure staff are aware of the students with food-sensitive allergies to keep the kids safe. But more than that, she tries to help students overcome their allergy struggles by offering them other healthy food options.

One example of Melody’s passion for her students is with a kindergarten student who was very shy and wanted to run from the building after being dropped off in the mornings. The teachers had to all work together to keep an extra eye on him all day. During the holiday the cafeteria staff moved an elf in fun ways each day for the children to find during lunch. The kids loved coming to lunch to look for him, especially the young, shy, boy. While the other students were having an activity in the gym next to the cafeteria, he ran to Melody and held her hand, and asked her all about the elf. Since that day, he formed a special bond with Melody. He now enters each morning to head to class, but first gets breakfast from the cart and says hello to Mrs. Mel! She always acknowledges him by name and wishes him a good day. Lately, he’s even begun to open up more at lunch and talk with the staff about what he likes on his tray.

Another example is a shy student who struggles with anxiety. Melody noticed he only ate from a packed lunch, every day bringing a sandwich that was cut into fun shapes using cookie cutters.