MAINEVILLE, OH — Little Miami Primary School teacher Melissa Craven has been selected as one of only 14 U.S. educators to receive a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research fellowship for the 2025–2026 academic year.
Through this prestigious international exchange program, Craven will represent the United States while conducting educational research in the United Kingdom in 2026. Her research will explore innovative practices in multilingual classrooms and how those strategies can be applied to better serve English learners in U.S. schools.
"While this award is a tremendous blessing to me personally, I also hope it helps my current students realize the value in continuing our educations throughout our lives! I intend to use my research to benefit hundreds of future students as well," said Craven.
Craven, who has taught second grade at Little Miami Primary for 13 years, originally began her career in engineering before earning a master’s degree in early childhood education from Xavier University in 2011. Her classroom regularly includes a diverse mix of learners, including a large number of ESOL students, which inspired her interest in multilingual education research.
The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by IREX. The program is one of the most competitive opportunities available to U.S. educators, seeking to promote mutual understanding and the exchange of innovative teaching practices worldwide.
“I am so incredibly proud of Melissa Craven for being selected as one of only 14 educators nationwide to receive the prestigious Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Research fellowship,” said Superintendent Regina Morgan. “This is a well-deserved honor that speaks volumes about Melissa’s deep commitment to her students, her innovative spirit, and her passion for continuous learning. Her research in the UK will not only enrich her own teaching but will bring valuable insights back to our Little Miami classrooms. Congratulations Melissa!”
Upon her return, Craven intends to share her findings and insights with Little Miami colleagues and the wider educational community.
For more information about the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program, visit fulbrightprogram.org.