Welcome Message
Dear Students and Families,
Like many others in the Oak Harbor Community, my family came to Whidbey Island courtesy of the United States Navy. I became part of the Oak Harbor Public Schools in 2014, first as a parent, then as a substitute before joining the Oak Harbor High School faculty for the 2015-2016 school year as the Creative Writing and Drama teacher. My teaching career began at age 13 when I was hired as a baton-twirling instructor. I have since taught Math, English, and Dance in Miami, Pensacola, and in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. I have also been a substitute teacher in California, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Maryland. And let’s not forget my time in Texas, which I consider my writer birthplace, where a “midlife crisis” merged with my youngest child entering kindergarten and resulted in a not-quite-ready-for-publication novel writing marathon. While I may be a teacher, I am also a student with the philosophy of “Never stop learning.”
I have always enjoyed working with high school students, no matter the subject area, due to all the excitement, enthusiasm, and challenges that go along with this group. In Drama, I challenge the students to push themselves outside of their comfort zones while simultaneously having fun through theatre games, improvisation, and a variety of monologues, partner, and group scenes. In Creative Writing, students are encouraged to express their ideas through journal prompts and various poetry styles. I firmly believe in what Nora Roberts, bestselling author of over 200 novels, has to say about writing: “The most important thing in writing is to have written. I can always fix a bad page. I can’t fix a blank one.”
In addition to my regular class load, I am also the Drama Club advisor, which puts on a full play each February. I’m proud of all the hard work the students did for the successful production of 2016’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” my first as co-director with Candice Baker. I look forward to many more exciting drama productions in working with current and future students.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Melissa “Micki” Gibson
Courses
Creative Writing
Drama II
