Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools recently issued the following announcement

Northwest Middle School teacher Kevin Melrose plans to soak it all in Monday at the 2022 National College Football Championship when he is one of 74 educators across the nation holding the American flag on the field while the national anthem is being played.

The 27-year-old eighth-grade social studies teacher will be one of 18 educators—nominated by their peers—from Indiana and 56 from across the nation to participate in the Teacher of the Year Championship Experience, presented by Eckrich, and developed by the CFP Foundation in coordination with the Council of Chief State School Officers.

“I am so honored to represent Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) as a Teacher of the Year, but this honors this says a great deal more about the victories we’ve had a district over the last few years,” said Melrose, who graduated from North Central High School and then earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University-Bloomington. “IPS has made me the teacher I am today. I’m proud of being part of a community of dedicated educators who work very hard every single day.”

During the weekend leading up to the national championship game, Melrose and his fellow teachers will enjoy a four-night stay in downtown Indianapolis. He will then join his peers as honored guests at CFP Foundation events, including the Extra Yard 5K and Taste of the Championship.

Before Alabama and Georgia kick off the national championship contest at Lucas Oil Stadium,  Melrose and his fellow teachers will be recognized for their superb effort and dedication to the teaching profession.

 “Honoring teachers is one of the many ways that the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship positively impacts our community,” said Mark Howell, chairman of the Indianapolis Host Committee. “We invite teachers and all of their biggest fans to join us in celebrating their hard work at the events surrounding National Championship weekend.”

Melrose said he is looking forward to networking with his peers at the various events over the weekend, including the 2022 Extra Yard for Teachers Summit powered by Getting Your Teach On.

“This is a great opportunity to learn what other educators are doing in what we could say are trying times,” said the native Hoosier, who admitted that he always wanted to teach social studies.

The Extra Yard for Teachers Summit is the College Football Playoff Foundation’s annual flagship event designed to empower and inspire educators with guest speakers, giveaways, networking experiences, and professional development during the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship weekend.

“Teaching content about civics and economics has never been a challenge to me. Our students need to know about these areas to do well in their everyday lives.”

And, this will be the second time Melrose, and his fiancé Kendall Locey, a teacher at Pike Township, will be at a major football game. He was one of 10 teachers from Indiana to be honored in December at the Big Ten Football Championship Game as a result of a partnership between the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation and the Big Ten Conference.

Melrose received $3,000 to fund projects at his school.

Original source can be found here.