By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Melissa McMurray is a very busy lady. As mother of two children, a daughter Isla (pronounced eye-luh) age 3 and son Max age 1, she is the very creative art teacher at Meadow View Elementary and also loves sewing, appliqué and embroidering.

“I am up to three machines now and plan to sew some quilts and dresses for my daughter in my spare time,” says McMurray.

This year’s selection as Teacher of the Year was an honor for McMurray who just this January began to teach Art to Pre-K through third grade after being a first grade teacher for the last 10 years.

“Children allow me to see their creative side through their art,” says McMurray. “They are not afraid to be bold with color and design. Their artwork is wild, carefree and absolutely beautiful as are their souls.”

A graduate of the University of Alabama where she got her B.S. in Elementary Education, she then attended the University of Montevallo for her master’s degree.  McMurray has completed ARI and AMSTI training.

Last year she attended the Parent-Teacher Leadership Academy at the University of Alabama.

Recently she added the Visual Arts endorsement to her teaching certificate so that she could teach Art.

“I am having the time of my life teaching Art and plan to continue until retirement,” she said. “One of my dreams for the future is to open an art studio/shop for local artists to display and sell their work and to offer art lessons for children.

“I believe my years as a young camper and a teenage counselor at Camp Sumatanga (a Methodist church camp) led me to my love of teaching elementary children.”

She was married to husband Daniel McMurray in May 2001.

Her son Max was born eight weeks early and has a Down’s syndrome diagnosis.  The umbilical cord had been wrapped around his neck twice and tied in a knot!  “I know it is by the grace of God that we have him with us today,” McMurray says. “Having a child with Down’s has changed my world in some really great ways. Max has helped me realize what in this world is really important – love, kindness and acceptance.”