Awards

A sixth grade science and mathmatics teacher Melanie Davis-Hardy emphasized the importance of connecting with her students and their families to foster a team effort toward the student’s success.

“Rural schools do a wonderful job with social learning because we have that community. We have that connection. We have those relationships because we live in these small communities.”

In 2025, NREA estimated that a quarter of rural students in Mississippi faced poverty. In her classroom, Davis-Hardy works to introduce students to numerous places and cultures, helping them recognize the potential opportunities available to them. 

“I can bring the world to them until they’re able to go into the world. I need to expose them to all these technologies that are current, so they will be ready to explore the real world when they get older,” Davis-Hardy said.

She will serve as an ambassador for rural education, representing the excellence and commitment of educators in Mississippi and representing the state at the NREA conference, where the nation’s top rural teacher will be named.