Staff Spotlight: Mrs. Depetro

*Intervention Specialist*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

December 5, 2022

Chosen for this week’s first Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Melissa Depetro. Mrs. Depetro has been a teacher here in the Brooklyn City School District for 21 of her 25-year teaching career. Outside of school, she likes to spend time with her family and vacation with them. She also loves to garden and plant flowers. Next Summer, she plans to spend time with her dad playing in a Bocce Ball league. 

Q: Why did you decide to become an intervention specialist?

A: “I love working in small groups with students, getting to know them. I also like helping them with things they need to work on that will help them improve. I always try to get to know the students on a personal level and what they’re interested in, so it can help me work with them and build a relationship. A cool thing about being an intervention specialist is that I get to do all the subjects. Not that I’m stuck in between all of it because I don’t want to say that, but I get to team-teach with very excellent teachers.”

Q: What has been your favorite part about working in the Brooklyn City School District? 

A: “All the wonderful staff that I’ve gotten a chance to work with. Everyone is very caring and giving. They’re understanding and supportive; they’ve helped me become a better teacher, better friend, and also a better mentor to others. They support me outside of school as well, which is something I love.”

Q: How do you feel as a teacher when you reflect on the growth of your students? 

A: “It’s so nice to see my students now, as high school students; it brings tears to my eyes. It’s so nice to see progress and see how much more mature the kids have gotten. For example, seeing a student in seventh grade who never talked brought me breakfast, and it brought tears to my eyes. I’m already an emotional person, and it was such a nice thing to see. I also love going to graduation. It makes me emotional to see the kids I used to teach, graduating, and moving on with their lives as grown up people. It’s almost as if time went by within the blink of an eye, and that’s really crazy!”

Q: What advice would you give to your former students who are graduating this coming year? 

A: “One piece of advice I’d give my former students is to show up everyday, no matter what. Do your best, and be kind to others. That will help a lot.”

Q: What is your funniest teaching moment?

A: “A staff member fell off a wobble stool in the middle of class. It wasn’t funny for them, but it was really funny at the moment; it just happened out of nowhere. That was such a funny moment for not only me but for them as well, once they realized what happened.”

Q: What was your biggest setback in life, and how did you overcome it?

A: “In high school, I didn’t make the varsity softball team as a junior. I really had to plan a team with my peers that were younger and had to improve my hitting skills. They were terrible, so I had to work really hard at practicing. That was alright for me. I was willing to keep going to get it right.” 

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: “The Guardians! I love the Guardians. My husband and I love going to games and supporting them. I love the Monsters. I like Ohio State as well. I like the Browns, but this year, I’m kind of on the fence about that. I wish Mr. Holko liked Ohio State.”

{Editor’s note: Sorry, Mrs. Depetro. Never happening! 😂}

Q: How do you plan on spending your Winter break?

A: “I’m going to watch some Hallmark movies, eat cookies, and spend time with my family. I’m planning on doing the holiday lights fest where you drive through and see the different displays from all kinds of different people. We will have dinner beforehand, then go out for hot chocolate. I will also catch up on some sleep, I hope!”

Q: What are some goals that you would like to achieve in the near future?

A: “I would like to go to Hawaii and visit, pay off my mortgage, and this Summer, build or plant a garden.”

Q: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment in 2022?

A: “I would say getting everything organized, specifically my holiday items. I like to be organized and keep everything neat, so I can find it when I need it.”

Thank you for taking the time to let us interview you, Mrs. Depetro. You truly are one of the kindest staff members here. We hope you have a wonderful Winter break, have the most awesome Christmas, and the greatest New Years. We wish you all the best!