Living up to the term lifelong learner, Melody Greathouse is poised to earn her master of arts in literacy Saturday during University of Texas Permian Basin’s commencement ceremony.
Graduations are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday at the Midland County Horseshoe, 2514 Arena Trail, in Midland. Greathouse’s graduation will be at 1 p.m.
Greathouse is a kindergarten teacher and kindergarten through second grade instructional leader at the STEM Academy.
“I love teaching reading and all aspects of reading. The degree program was online, which is very beneficial and the literacy professors, you can’t find anyone better. They’re amazing,” Greathouse said in a phone interview.
This is Greathouse’s 21st year in teaching. She worked for Ector County ISD for 16 years, moving to STEM Academy for four years when it was part of UTPB. This last year, STEM Academy became part of ECISD.
Greathouse said she wanted to further her education and show her son that even though she might be well into her career, you can still make time to learn and reach your goals.
Looking back, she said she doesn’t know how she juggled everything.
“… I just put my mind to it and knew that I had to do it and I did it. This semester has been especially difficult, actually the fall and the spring. My husband had two surgeries in the fall and my mother has been in and out of the hospital the whole year. I had surgery in December and I just recently had surgery three weeks ago, an emergency surgery so I was in the hospital for eight days. I still got my work done because I just knew it had to be done,” Greathouse said. “I wanted to graduate and achieve my goal. … You just have to have that mindset to get it done and be successful.”
As for graduating, Greathouse said she’s very excited.
“I have enjoyed my time learning in the literacy program. I’ve learned a lot of things that I can share with my peers, my coworkers and use with my students. I’m very excited to have attained this goal and I’m proud of myself,” she added.
Greathouse said UTPB’s literacy program is fantastic.
“Dr. (Tara) Wilson and Dr. (Shelly) Landreth are very knowledgeable in the field of literacy. They have so much to give with their knowledge and their wisdom. I really enjoyed learning from them and growing as an educator myself,” she said.
Greathouse grew up in Andrews and went to UTPB on a Presidential Scholarship. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in psychology.
There were classes to get certified but no actual education degree at the time, so she took education classes on top of everything else.
Greathouse has always wanted to be educator.
“My mother was a teacher. When I was little girl, I played school with my friends. There was nothing else I ever wanted to do other than be a teacher,” she added.
She and her husband Billy, who will be married 19 years this summer, have a son, Kanyon who attends STEM Academy. He turns 16 in July.
“… It didn’t seem like it was going as fast, but looking back it flew by,” Greathouse said.
She plans to take a break this summer and see what happens this fall.
“I did apply for the MBA program and I’m going to hopefully take one class in the fall and see how that goes.
My husband as a plumbing company here in town and I just want to be able to better support our company and be more knowledgeable in the business world,” Greathouse said.
But she still wants to pursue the education route.
Greathouse said she appreciates the encouragement she received from friends and family during this process.
“It has not always been easy and I know that there was time taken away from family time when I had to study or do papers, but it’s all worth it. They encouraged me and helped along the way, especially my husband and my son they had to sacrifice as well. There were a lot of long nights and hours where ,,, they had to help more around the house,” she added.
“And my mother, too. She’s been a cheerleader for my entire life. She’s a huge encouragement and I’m very proud that I can share that with her. She earned her master’s degree later in life as well while she was teaching. I really look up to her,” Greathouse said.
