Beyond the Bell

Join teacher and author Melissa Pyrch for a signing and casual visit at the Reading Room on Sunday October 30th from 12-2pm. Drop in during that time to check out her book and chat with Melissa about all of the questions that loom once graduation is on the horizon.

“Melissa Pyrch has been teaching high school English in New York state for over two decades. While motivating her seniors to pursue their wildest dreams, Melissa Pyrch made a promise that she would never ask them to do anything she wasn’t willing to do herself. In that challenge, her social media account on Instagram @Pyrchgetspublished was born. She wrote Beyond the Bell and proved to her students that, with hard work, anything is possible.

After graduating from SUNY Cortland with a teaching certificate and a slew of sorority sisters, she landed her first teaching job. As her career evolved, she taught electives like Mass Media and Society, Poetry, Beyond the Classics, and Public Speaking. She earned a master’s degree in creative writing from Manhattanville College and was named Westchester County’s Cheerleading Coach of the Year. Pyrch earned an additional master’s in communication arts from The College of New Rochelle where she won several academic scholarships and graduated with honors.

A highlight of her career is helping students craft college essays that reflect their truths. This experience opened her eyes to understanding the simple key to connecting with teens. Her approach: listen, acknowledge their challenges, and push them out of their comfort zones so they can fly.

While most teachers struggled during the pandemic, Pyrch was awarded June’s Teacher of the Month in the Hudson Valley for her enthusiasm and ability to engage students even in a digital classroom. Most recently, she became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, to better support teens in need.

As an author, teacher, mom of three boys, and wife to a Yonkers Fire Captain, Melissa Pyrch gets to live her biggest dream every day when the bell rings.

Stop by Instagram @pyrchgetspublished or visit www.melissapyrch.com for updates and to join the fun.”