Hero Spotlight – Melody Steenbergh

“Bloom where you are planted.”

Melody Steenbergh is an Elementary school teacher in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She has been married to her husband, Marc, an active duty soldier, for nearly 20 years. Together, they have two children, a daughter Megan who is 16, and a son, Michael who is 6. Melody has been a teacher for 19 years and says of her career choice, “ For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher. I love working with my students, and I feel like teaching is truly my calling.”

Her friends describe Melody as “a ray of sunshine, always smiling and one of the most humble women alive.” Melody and her family are active members of their church, and when she isn’t teaching and caring for her family, you can find her volunteering at her church with her husband, Marc.

A Dream Realized

When Melody reflects on her childhood ambitions to one day become a teacher, she can trace it all back to the second grade. “I was greatly inspired by my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Peggy Means. She was an amazing example of what a good teacher should be”

“Over the years, I have had many wonderful moments, too many to recall. Teaching is a very rewarding job. My favorite memories are of watching my students discover something they can do, like when reading finally clicks or when they master something difficult like long division.”

Melody loves being a teacher but does admit that at times it can be difficult. “Teaching is a very emotionally draining job. It requires a lot of heart and a lot of personal investment. We do not always get to see the payoff right away. We have to trust that the little difference we made this day will benefit the students down the road sometime. We plant the seeds, but we don’t always get to see them bloom.”

Teachers can be students too, and Melody says that her 19 years as a teacher have taught her a lot. The most significant lesson being, “To be flexible! I am working with 24 humans every day that each has unique needs, and those needs change from hour to hour. I am also working with their parents, my colleagues and the community.”

When asked if she would encourage her children to become teachers she says, “If they felt that they were being called to be teachers, I would absolutely support them in that decision.”

Strong Family Unit

Melody and her husband, Marc, are both from Michigan and began dating in high school. “Marc is an incredible man, husband, and father. I love him with all my heart, and I can’t imagine my life without him for a single second.” Not only are Melody and Marc parents to their two children Megan and Michael, but they also have two rescue dogs. Their dog’s names are Finn and Winston. Melody says, “They are such a great part of our family.”

In their free time, Melody and her family love to travel. In the past year, they have been to Chicago, Colorado, London and Paris, and many trips around North Carolina. Their next adventure will be New York City.

Dr. Steenbergh

Melody has devoted the last 19 years to teaching others while also being a student herself. She is currently finishing her Doctorate in Education. “That has been a huge undertaking, and I hope to be done in a year or two. After that, I will continue teaching elementary school, and I hope to teach adults who want to become teachers.”

Her favorite quote is, “Bloom where you are planted. We have lived in many places, thanks to the army. We have been stationed in Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky and North Carolina. It’s important to be able to adjust to your surroundings and thrive when you live a life like ours.”

Melody’s husband, Marc, is nearing retirement from the Army, and they are looking forward to buying a house and working with Homes for Heroes during that process.

“I just love what they do for soldiers and teachers. It’s so rare to find a company that really invests in your future because they appreciate what we do. My husband and I both sacrifice a lot, and at times, it can feel like a thankless job. We are grateful to be recognized and supported by a business like Homes for Heroes during big life decisions such as home buying.”

Homes for Heroes is honored to provide deals and services for families like Melody’s through our nationwide real estate affiliates. We are honored to support and recognize the sacrifices made by families just like Melody’s every day. You deserve nothing but the best when buying, selling, or refinancing your home and we are here to ensure that is exactly what you get. Sign up here for free to connect with us on how we can help save you money too!

Thank you, Melody, for all that you do for your students and community.