From OHVA Student to OHVA Teacher: Brittany Melden’s Full-Circle Story 

Every morning, Brittany Melden watches her kindergarteners light up as they master something new—logging in on their own, sounding out a tricky letter, reading their first word. For her, those small victories carry an extra layer of meaning. She knows how life-changing it feels when school finally clicks.  

As a teenager, Brittany found that spark at Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA). What started as an unfamiliar experiment in 2007 became the place that restored her love of learning and showed her a future in education.  

Today, she’s come full circle. The young learner who once discovered possibility on the other side of the screen is now the teacher helping OHVA’s youngest learners discover it for themselves.  

Rediscovering a Love of Learning 

Brittany grew up in Rossford, Ohio, just outside of Toledo. She was the child who loved school so much she played teacher after class. But by middle school, that joy collapsed under relentless bullying. Social media was just taking hold, and the cruelty followed her home. “It got worse and worse until my anxiety was to the max,” she remembers.  

In tenth grade, she and her sister came across OHVA. Online school was less pervasive then, but it offered the safe learning environment she so desperately needed. “I wish I’d found OHVA sooner,” Brittany says. “They helped me find my passion for learning again.” 

As an OHVA student, she joined the yearbook, contributed to the student newspaper, and built relationships with teachers who encouraged her. She graduated in 2010 with her confidence restored, and a new sense of direction.  

A Dream Realized 

Brittany went on to earn her degree in education from the University of Toledo. After student teaching in a brick-and-mortar school, she thought her path was set. But, she found herself still searching for the right fit. 

Then came the call from OHVA. The principal had been looking for an alum to return as a teacher, and Brittany was the perfect match. “It was always a running joke that I’d love to come back one day,” she says. “I never thought it would actually happen.” 

She officially joined OHVA in 2020 as a kindergarten teacher. Now in her sixth year, she’s built a career where she feels supported, energized, and proud to carry forward the values that shaped her as a student. 

What Online Kindergarten Looks Like 

Families often wonder if online kindergarten can really work. Brittany is confident it does. “By week two, my students can log themselves in,” she says. “They feel ownership—like, this is mine. This is my school.” 

Her students sing songs, move around, laugh, and share with each other. Breaks are built in, and flexibility is part of the structure. “If you need a break, take one. If you need to move, move. We can fit the schedule to what kids need.” 

That flexibility extends to academics, too. A kindergartener excelling in math might move into first-grade lessons. A child struggling with phonics can slow down without fear of falling behind. “Every child learns differently,” Brittany says. “Here, we can honor that.” 

Passing It On 

Brittany’s connection to OHVA runs deep. Her younger sister also graduated from the school, and several of her nieces and nephews are enrolled today.  

“I give a lot to OHVA,” Brittany says, “I get to do what I love and still be home with my kids.” 

This is Brittany’s chance to give her students what OHVA once gave her—safety, encouragement, and the belief that school can be a place of joy and belonging.  

“I feel blessed to be here,” she says. “OHVA changed my life. Now I get to change lives for my students.” 

Ready to help your child rediscover the joy of learning? Explore how Ohio Virtual Academy creates a safe and engaging environment for every student.

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