Melissa DeClementi, a physical education teacher at Cinnaminson Middle School and Mt. Laurel resident, has been awarded a National Liberty Museum “Teacher as Hero” award for her success in coordinating several community service events for her students.
DeClementi was nominated by one of her colleagues, Nuran Onal, who also happens to be one of DeClementi’s former students when Onal was in six through eighth grade. However, for DeClementi, being recognized for her work was never the purpose of doing what she does. DeClementi has always had a passion to do things for others, and by coordinating community service events for Cinnaminson Middle School, DeClementi finds her enjoyment in teaching the youth to always give back.
“I always knew I was going to be a teacher,” said DeClementi. “I became a physical education teacher because I played field hockey and lacrosse in high school and college and it was just a perfect fit. My dad was a principal and my mom was a teacher, so I grew up in a house where that’s what you were going to be, but being involved with these other programs really allows me to do more than just be a physical education teacher.”
“We took over our Unity Club program about 15 years ago and changed the goals of it a little bit,” DeClementi continued. “We made it more about community service, kindness and helping others. Just being really good people. We have over 160 kids in the club, and we feel like the more we can expose them to doing kind things and doing community service, they’re going to want to do it on their own once they see the result.”
DeClementi has organized many community service events over the years, but recently the Unity Club has participated in the Souper Supper for Seniors, Pajamas for Cereal, Take a Veteran to School Day, Stuff-A-Bus and sandwich-making for the Cathedral Kitchen in Camden.
After years of service, DeClementi has started a new position in the school district. Along with being a physical education teacher, she will also be the district character education facilitator. With this opportunity, she will be able to bring the events that she has done at the middle school to the entire district.
“Just seeing the kids realize they’re making a difference is one of the best things,” said DeClementi. “Teaching them what it feels like so that they will want to do it again. The biggest reward came last year when I walked into the food bank and I saw one of our former unity students working there on their own. Maybe it was for a college requirement, but they chose to do something we showed them. There’s no better feeling than doing something for someone and seeing their reaction and you knowing you made a difference.”
DeClementi will be honored at the National Liberty Museum on May 11. Outside of teaching physical education and becoming the district character education facilitator, DeClementi is also a member of the Mt. Laurel Schools Board of Education and travels around the region presenting on character and community. She is also the mother of two: Danny, 14, and Katie, 11.
