Meet Melody Hawkins

Melody Hawkins is a nationally-recognized, award-winning educator who is committed to serving students in under-resourced communities and enhancing equity in urban education. As a former eighth-grade science teacher, Melody provided culturally-relevant science learning experiences infused with social-emotional learning to motivate and empower her students to always achieve success. As a current high school administrator, Melody leads with the belief that all students deserve access to equitable, inclusive learning experiences that are representative of their ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds so that they will be positive contributors to their community. 

Melody began her post-secondary education at the University of Tennessee, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology. After completing her coursework, Melody served a one-year commitment in the Americorp and was assigned to the American Red Cross New Orleans, LA chapter. Upon completing her commitment to Americorp, Melody immediately pursued a career in diagnostic laboratory science. While working in the laboratory science field, Melody quickly realized the disproportionate number of scientists of color in her field. She channeled this realization and decided she needed to be a part of the solution. Melody re-directed her science career to focus on science education, an area that would soon become her passion. She returned to school to receive a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction while simultaneously beginning her teaching career at Vine Middle Magnet School in Knoxville, TN. Over the last several years, Melody has become a leader in her school, district, and state, serving on district-level science curriculum teams, state-level assessment committees, teacher educator fellowships, assisting with school and district-level professional learning and opening her classroom door as a model classroom for teachers across her district. Thanks to a Tennessee Department of Education Administrator Development Program, Melody earned her second master’s degree in Educational Leadership and currently serves as an administrator in a high-opportunity community, where she uses her leadership to support her students' academic and social-emotional development. Melody is also currently pursuing her doctorate in National University's Organizational Innovation Program. 

Melody is the recipient of the 2019 and 2021 building-level Teacher of the Year awards, the 2021 Knox County Schools Middle School Science Teacher of the Year award, the 2020 Knox Business Journal 40 under 40 Most Influential People of Knoxville award, and most recently honored as the 2021 National University Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Melody has been honored by the Tennesse General Assembly and the City of Jackson, TN for her work as a science educator who has provided high-quality instruction to Tennessee's students. Melody has been featured in several media outlets and publications and frequently lends her science curriculum development and professional development expertise to nationally recognized educational organizations.

Melody resides in Knoxville, TN with her husband, Jericho - a fellow University of Tennessee alum - and their two daughters, Madison and Miah.