Decorated Pre-K Teacher Works to Develop ‘The whole child’

This week’s A+ Teacher was recently recognized by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County.

Melissa Mapes was given the KidsFirst Cooperman-Bogue Award for her dedication to her students and their families. She’s been a VPK teacher at Gingerbread Preschool of Carillon for 29 years.

“I love seeing them start so little and they don’t know a lot of things and by the time they’re done with me, they’re ready for kindergarten,” said Mapes.

Gingerbread Preschool Director Ildiko McGinness said Mapes has never missed a day of work. Mapes credits her parents for her work ethic.

“They instilled in me, ‘You go to work, you do the best you can’,” she said.

Mapes says she spends each day teaching her preschool students what they’ll need to know for next school year.

“We do social emotional learning here, so they learn how to handle conflicts and use their words and talk it out. Not just letters, words, and numbers. We do the whole child,” said Mapes.

She hopes her students will leave her classroom with two qualities.

“Definitely a love of learning and confidence,” said Mapes.

This year Mapes taught the child of one of her former students for the first time, and she said it was amazing to learn that on the first day of school.

“She recognizes each child individually,” said McGinness. “So she knows what each child needs.”

Read the story as originally published at https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2026/06/23/decorated-pre-k-teacher-works-to-develop–the-whole-child-