We Are Crew, Not Passengers!

Liz Melahn

Contact E-Mail
About Me

What inspired you to get into the field of education?: 

I love learning and people, so teaching was the absolute perfect fit.  I've always felt that high school can be tough for kids and I always strive to make my classroom a place where students feel safe and know they belong while also finding themselves challenged academically.  Social studies has also been my favorite field of study for as long as I can remember and I love having the opportunity to share that passion with others. 

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?: 

I love watching students transform throughout their high school years.  They change so much between the first day of ninth grade and graduation and it is incredible to see their progress and watch them as they take on the world.

General background information (years in education, degree(s), Universities/Colleges attended): 

  • BA History; Colorado State University - 2009
  • MA American History; Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History - May 2020

Interests/Hobbies: 

Baseball! Mountain Biking! Printmaking! I love to learn new things and explore the world as much as I can - to that end, I could list one hundred and eleven interests here, but I'll spare you the reading!

My Classroom

Courses Taught: 

  • United States History 
  • American Government 
  • We the People
  • Colorado History 
  • Cold War 
  • Fort Collins Social Studies
  • National Parks
  • World Politics
  • World Geography
  • American Humanities
  • African Humanities
  • Current World Issues
  • FRCC History Courses 

About My Classroom: 

My classroom is built around empowering students.  We have a variety of seating and movement options and classes are designed to allow students as much choice as possible while pushing them to develop skills rooted in the social sciences such as reading, writing, analyzing, and crafting quality arguments.  It is a student-driven environment where we work to learn and grow together on a daily basis. 

PSD does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran status, age or disability in access or admission to, or treatment or employment in, its programs or activities. A lack of English speaking skills will not be a barrier to admission or participation.