Every year, teachers and educational professionals from each Freehold Regional High School District school are selected to be honored in the Monmouth County Governor's Educator of the Year Program. We are recognizing each of the 2022-2023 recipients in a Staff Spotlight series. This week, we are highlighting Megan Mellaci, the Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) at Manalapan High School.

Ms. Mellaci came to the Freehold Regional High School District in September 2016 as a Long-Term Substitute (LTS) School Counselor in multiple high schools including Colts Neck, Howell, and Manalapan. Following her LTS position at Manalapan, Ms. Mellaci transitioned to SAC at the RAISE Academy for a year. She is now in her fourth year as the SAC at Manalapan High School. 

In addition to being the SAC, Ms. Mellaci is the club advisor for SADD/Save a Brave and Be Mindful, Be Brave — a student and staff meditation group. She also serves as an Anti-bullying Specialist for Manalapan High School. 

"It was such a lovely experience, and all the support and kind words everyone had to say really mean so much to me," Ms. Mellaci said of learning she was selected as Educational Professional of the Year.

As Student Assistance Coordinator, Ms. Mellaci loves that she can be a resource for students and families to turn to when they need help and aren’t sure where to go. Her advice to new educators is to always keep things in perspective. 

"So many of our students and families are going through some of their most difficult times. It's important that we always remember to stay present with them and remind them that we are here to help support them," Ms. Mellaci said.