If you ask Melissa Elliott about her greatest joy, she won’t hesitate: her family.

As a mother of three boys, she knows what it means to juggle a full plate—and she does it with strength, warmth, and an unwavering sense of purpose.

Melissa is not just a devoted mom—she’s also the elementary school nurse for Vandalia, a role that allows her to care for hundreds of children every day.

“I love it,” she says. “I want every student to feel safe, cared for, and comfortable coming to me for help.”

But balancing her role as a school nurse with the demands of raising three growing boys hasn’t always been easy.

“There are days when I feel like the students at school get more of me than my own kids do,” she admits. “But at the end of the day, they know they are loved.”

Her sons—Gunnar, Huck, and Briggs—each have their own unique personalities, but Huck, her middle child, has always stood out in his own way.

“He’s just Huck,” she laughs. “He is his own person, through and through.”

Melissa’s path to becoming a school nurse wasn’t something she planned—it was something that found her.

She started her career in ICU nursing, working in fast-paced, high-stakes environments. But when she became a mother, her priorities shifted.

For a time, she stayed home with her boys, dedicating herself fully to raising and nurturing them. Then, in the years leading up to COVID, she was approached about becoming a substitute school nurse in Vandalia.

She took the opportunity—not knowing that the world was about to change.

When COVID hit, Melissa found herself on the front lines of the school district’s response.

“I became the COVID nurse,” she says. “I handled contact tracing, testing, and helping families navigate the confusion.”

It was an incredibly stressful time, but she rose to the challenge, knowing that her work was keeping students safe.

Now, as the full-time elementary school nurse, she has found her true place—offering care, comfort, and connection to the kids of Vandalia.

Melissa’s dedication to helping others extends far beyond the walls of the school.

She and her husband chose Vandalia as their home because they wanted their children to have more opportunities.

“The Okaw Area Vocational Center is going to be huge for Huck,” she says. “They have welding, auto body, construction trades—all hands-on programs that fit him perfectly.”

Huck, she knows, is not the type of kid to sit still and read a textbook—but give him something to build, fix, or create, and he’ll figure it out in no time.

“He’s got so much potential,” Melissa says. “He just needs the right opportunities to thrive.”

At home, Melissa is a constant presence in her boys’ lives, supporting their interests, their strengths, and their dreams.

Whether she’s cheering on Huck as he talks about welding, or encouraging Gunnar and Briggs in their own pursuits, she is always there—a steady hand, a warm heart, and an unwavering source of support.

She’s not just Huck’s mom. She’s a vital part of this community, giving her time and energy to make Vandalia a place where every child—her own and others—can thrive.

For Huck, having a mom like Melissa means growing up with an example of kindness, dedication, and resilience.

And for Melissa, having a son like Huck means knowing that his spark, his curiosity, and his big heart will lead him exactly where he’s meant to be.

Because whether it’s through nursing, welding, or just being there for each other, this family is built on hard work, deep love, and an unbreakable bond—the kind that only grows stronger over time.