Melena Hagen

This is Melena’s 5th year teaching for the Rock Academy. In May 2009, Melena was awarded San Diego Teacher of the Year, as well as the Southern California Runner-up Teacher of the Year by the California Air Force Association (CAFA). The award was presented to Ms. Hagen by Mike Peters, Far West Region President and Brigadier General Eric W. Crabtree, Commander 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command.

Melena was raised in a non-Christian home in Pasadena, California. Her parents decided to send her to a Christian elementary school because they thought it would be "safer." It was in the 2nd grade that Melena accepted the Lord as a result of hearing the salvation message during a school chapel. Melena's parents allowed her to choose where she attended junior and senior high school, so she followed her friends to the local Christian schools to get more exposure to the Christian faith. She started attending church during her senior year in high school, which was where she was introduced to Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. As she desired a college experience where she could grow both academically and spiritually, Melena both attended and then graduated from PLNU. Melena completed her teaching credential the summer after graduation. Her two student-teaching placements were in the 6th grade at Rosebank Elementary in Chula Vista and the 2nd grade at Central Elementary in National City.

Melena is grateful for her Christian education. She believes that if it weren't for her numerous teachers who helped shape and transform her over the years, she may not be who she is today. Her Christian education inspired her to become a teacher and has given her the desire to be what her teachers were for her when she was in school.