Melissa Rowe

Melissa Rowe received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Master of Arts in Secondary Science Education and worked in the chemistry industry for 12 years before transitioning into education. She earned her teaching certificate through the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy at Northwest Georgia RESA and has continued her professional growth by obtaining STEM, Gifted, and Chemistry Endorsements, as well as participating in the Rural Teacher Teaching Initiative, Nutrients for Science, and the Georgia Aquarium–International SeaKeepers professional development. Now in her eleventh year of teaching, she has taught gifted, honors, general, and inclusion sections of Physical Science and Chemistry and serves as the Chattooga High School Science Department Chair. Melissa is the 2026 Georgia Science Teachers Association High School Teacher of the Year and the 2025–2026 Chattooga High School Teacher of the Year, and she has received multiple grants, including the 2025 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Classroom Grant, the 2024 American Chemical Society–Hach High School Chemistry Classroom Grant, and the 2024 Georgia Teachers Initiative Teacher Grants for Innovation. She is an active member of several professional organizations and an ambassador for the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Frugal Science Academy and Georgia Life Sciences. Melissa has presented at the National Science Teachers Association Conference, Northwest Georgia RESA STEM Forum, and Georgia Science Teachers Association Conference, and she volunteers within her school system to promote science through initiatives such as Science Camp and STEM Night.