By Salina Kilmer
Mrs. Melanie Theiss visited yearbook students and shared stories about her life and her goals for an oral history project.
Mrs. Theiss worked at NHS for many years as Mr. Glynn Wells’ band secretary, and then later she worked with the counselors for many years as their secretary. She is proud of the work she did to help the band travel to the Rose Bowl Parade, and to help organize and facilitate many graduation ceremonies and scholarship assemblies.
Her high school memories are a lot like the memories that students are making now. Some of her favorite things were going to football games, watching the drill team and band, and things like that. One of her biggest role models is Mrs. LouAnnJones, who was the Key Club sponsor at NHS for more than 20 years.
Another big role model is Anita Norman, who currently teaches math at NHS. Mrs. Norman was on dialysis for more than three years and had a kidney transplant last year. In spite of her health problems she still comes to work and teaches every day, keeping a positive attitude no matter how she feels.
Mrs. Theiss said self-discipline is a goal that people work on throughout their lives, and she encouraged students to “never give up.”
“Find your purpose,” she said. “Get everything you can out of school.”
Besides her work at NHS, Mrs. Theiss is also proud of her children and her family. John Robert and Paul both graduated from NHS and Texas A&M. Mrs. Theiss said one of her favorite memories was auditioning for the Beaumont Symphony when she was 19 years old.
Mrs. Theiss said she played piano for many special events, weddings and receptions, and she continues to play for her church and to substitute on the organ, when needed.
The most important person in her life is Jesus Christ, and then her husband. She is a woman of strong faith.
