I am Melissa Bane, and I am running for Hancock County Board of Education. I am thankful for this opportunity to share my qualifications, education, and experience. Though I have lived in a few different states and held a variety of jobs, most of my life has been spent in Hancock County and has been focused on education. I was a student in Hancock County from preschool to high school, began my college education here, and have spent many years being an educator here. I am deeply rooted in Hancock County, from Chester to Weirton, and I am honored at the thought of serving the students and community as a member of the Board of Education.
My family history in Hancock County stretches back to at least the 1800s with Moore sheep herding and Nichol dairy farming along Shepherd’s Valley Road. My personal Hancock County history begins in 1982 at 3 years old, when my mother moved back to her family’s dairy farm with my three brothers and me. With the last name Maher, I started school in New Cumberland at Tic Toc Pre-School. I spent primary and middle grades in Chester, moved to Weirton in 1994, and graduated from Weir High in 1997. I began my teaching career at Allen T. Allison Elementary in 2010 and transferred to Oak Glen Middle in 2016. In 2021, I took the opportunity to work for West Virginia University in a brand-new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program. As part of this program, I have traveled throughout the state of West Virginia delivering highly engaging, collaborative, career-focused, standards-based lessons. Locally in this role, I have worked side by side with educators to provide opportunities for students at Oak Glen Middle, Weir Middle, Oak Glen High, Weir High, and the Hancock County Alternative Learning Center in science classes, math classes, and special education classes. While the STEAM TAC program mostly serves public schools, I even had a one-time special opportunity to provide a lesson at St. Paul school.
I am a lifelong hard worker and have gained skill and perspective by being involved in a variety of roles in a variety of industries. From babysitting, fast food, and housekeeping to Naval Service, data entry, and teaching, I have handled money, interacted with the public, followed orders and led, collected and analyzed data, designed projects, attended and presented at conferences in different regions of the country, and so much more. In each role, I have done what was needed, exceeded expectations, and added to my skill set.
Throughout my middle school and high school years, I participated in the arts and was academically and community minded. I was in involved with band, theater, student council, literary magazine, National Honor’s Society, and Spanish club. In the US Navy, I successfully completed boot camp in Great Lakes, IL, Machinist Mate A School in at Navy Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in Goose Creek, South Carolina, and Navy Nuclear Power School at NNPTC. At West Virginia Northern Community College, I obtained an associate’s degree and graduated as valedictorian and commencement speaker. Having graduated at the top of my class in the College of Education, I was selected to carry the college banner during commencement at West Liberty University. I am certified in elementary education grades K-6 and mathematics grades 5-9. I have a Master of Education in Integrated Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from American College of Education.
Throughout my years in college, I obtained awards and recognition for both academics and community service. My most beloved and cherished memories come from my service in Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, as a member, campus representative, chapter president, and Ohio Region Vice President. Over my adult life, I have engaged in community events and meetings that focus on neutral, positive, and negative aspects of life in Hancock County. This includes a focus group exploring school consolidation more than 2 decades ago to more recent Weirton economic development planning meetings and Public Service Commission hearings. I have actively supported students and families by attending and arranging events throughout the past 20 years. I have participated with a number of nonprofit organizations and volunteer campaigns, such as the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Hancock County Literacy Council events, and litter pick up. As time permits, I attend meetings held by Weirton City Council, the Public Service Commission, Hancock County Board of Education, and other groups and organizations to speak on important issues, hear from leaders firsthand, and remain civically engaged. I have been active in my church community for many years, first at Family of God in Weirton and, for more than 6 years now, at Impact Church in Weirton/Steubenville. I attend faithfully and have volunteered time and effort through a variety of initiatives as both a member and a leader.
Education has been the center of my professional life for the past 20 years and the priority of my daily life after God and family. I am a conscientious and reflective practitioner who continually strives to improve my own methods, offer students exceptional opportunities, and provide the information and support students and families need to meet their goals. I care about the education of students (including members of my own family), the appropriate use of taxpayer money, and sound, logical, research-based policies and procedures that help students and employees perform at high levels.
I have thought about public service for most of my life, considering ways in which I can serve in an elected position. Throughout recent years, serving on the Board of Education became a quiet goal for my future. Recently, I went through all the necessary steps with the Ethics Commission and my employer (WVU) to determine if I could run and serve on the Board of Education while maintaining my role as a WVU STEAM specialist. Through meetings and written documentation with the Ethics Commission, lawyers, supervisors, previous and current board members, friends, and family, I determined that I can and should seek a seat on the upcoming Hancock County Board of Education. I want to work with the community and school employees to learn, improve, and thrive.am Melissa Bane, and I am running for Hancock County Board of Education. I am thankful for this opportunity to share my qualifications, education, and experience. Though I have lived in a few different states and held a variety of jobs, most of my life has been spent in Hancock County and has been focused on education. I was a student in Hancock County from preschool to high school, began my college education here, and have spent many years being an educator here. I am deeply rooted in Hancock County, from Chester to Weirton, and I am honored at the thought of serving the students and community as a member of the Board of Education.
My family history in Hancock County stretches back to at least the 1800s with Moore sheep herding and Nichol dairy farming along Shepherd’s Valley Road. My personal Hancock County history begins in 1982 at 3 years old, when my mother moved back to her family’s dairy farm with my three brothers and me. With the last name Maher, I started school in New Cumberland at Tic Toc Pre-School. I spent primary and middle grades in Chester, moved to Weirton in 1994, and graduated from Weir High in 1997. I began my teaching career at Allen T. Allison Elementary in 2010 and transferred to Oak Glen Middle in 2016. In 2021, I took the opportunity to work for West Virginia University in a brand-new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program. As part of this program, I have traveled throughout the state of West Virginia delivering highly engaging, collaborative, career-focused, standards-based lessons. Locally in this role, I have worked side by side with educators to provide opportunities for students at Oak Glen Middle, Weir Middle, Oak Glen High, Weir High, and the Hancock County Alternative Learning Center in science classes, math classes, and special education classes. While the STEAM TAC program mostly serves public schools, I even had a one-time special opportunity to provide a lesson at St. Paul school.
I am a lifelong hard worker and have gained skill and perspective by being involved in a variety of roles in a variety of industries. From babysitting, fast food, and housekeeping to Naval Service, data entry, and teaching, I have handled money, interacted with the public, followed orders and led, collected and analyzed data, designed projects, attended and presented at conferences in different regions of the country, and so much more. In each role, I have done what was needed, exceeded expectations, and added to my skill set.
Throughout my middle school and high school years, I participated in the arts and was academically and community minded. I was in involved with band, theater, student council, literary magazine, National Honor’s Society, and Spanish club. In the US Navy, I successfully completed boot camp in Great Lakes, IL, Machinist Mate A School in at Navy Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in Goose Creek, South Carolina, and Navy Nuclear Power School at NNPTC. At West Virginia Northern Community College, I obtained an associate’s degree and graduated as valedictorian and commencement speaker. Having graduated at the top of my class in the College of Education, I was selected to carry the college banner during commencement at West Liberty University. I am certified in elementary education grades K-6 and mathematics grades 5-9. I have a Master of Education in Integrated Curriculum and Instructional Leadership from American College of Education.
Throughout my years in college, I obtained awards and recognition for both academics and community service. My most beloved and cherished memories come from my service in Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, as a member, campus representative, chapter president, and Ohio Region Vice President. Over my adult life, I have engaged in community events and meetings that focus on neutral, positive, and negative aspects of life in Hancock County. This includes a focus group exploring school consolidation more than 2 decades ago to more recent Weirton economic development planning meetings and Public Service Commission hearings. I have actively supported students and families by attending and arranging events throughout the past 20 years. I have participated with a number of nonprofit organizations and volunteer campaigns, such as the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Hancock County Literacy Council events, and litter pick up. As time permits, I attend meetings held by Weirton City Council, the Public Service Commission, Hancock County Board of Education, and other groups and organizations to speak on important issues, hear from leaders firsthand, and remain civically engaged. I have been active in my church community for many years, first at Family of God in Weirton and, for more than 6 years now, at Impact Church in Weirton/Steubenville. I attend faithfully and have volunteered time and effort through a variety of initiatives as both a member and a leader.
Education has been the center of my professional life for the past 20 years and the priority of my daily life after God and family. I am a conscientious and reflective practitioner who continually strives to improve my own methods, offer students exceptional opportunities, and provide the information and support students and families need to meet their goals. I care about the education of students (including members of my own family), the appropriate use of taxpayer money, and sound, logical, research-based policies and procedures that help students and employees perform at high levels.
I have thought about public service for most of my life, considering ways in which I can serve in an elected position. Throughout recent years, serving on the Board of Education became a quiet goal for my future. Recently, I went through all the necessary steps with the Ethics Commission and my employer (WVU) to determine if I could run and serve on the Board of Education while maintaining my role as a WVU STEAM specialist. Through meetings and written documentation with the Ethics Commission, lawyers, supervisors, previous and current board members, friends, and family, I determined that I can and should seek a seat on the upcoming Hancock County Board of Education. I want to work with the community and school employees to learn, improve, and thrive.
