Justin Melville

Email: [email protected]

 

"Time just gets away from us."

-Charles Portis. True Grit

 

A little over 20 years ago, I was a senior at San Lorenzo High School in Mr. Haagenson's classroom. I was so eager to graduate and to be done with school, that I failed to notice the impact this man was going to have on my life. He lectured about Seinfeld, his trip to the Globe Theater, and his love of video games. Brett Haagenson was quirky, spontaneous, and loved literature. Little did I know that he was planting the seeds of what I was to become. 

 

I didn't have a father growing up, so I "collected" ones along the way. There's Mr. Ed, who made my whole career possible by convincing the principal at Edendale to keep me on. There's Steve Gutierrez from CSUEB who taught me that true writing comes from the heart; not the head. There was my master teacher at San Leandro High School, Jerry Heverly, who allowed me to be creative with my lesson plans.

 

As a father of three myself, I'm still trying to figure out what it means to be a dad, to be a man, but the foundation is there. I've had plenty of positive influences during my 40 years of life.

 

I hope to pass those lessons along to my students. I hope we can learn and grow with humility. I hope to learn from you as much as you learn from me. I hope.

 

Have a great school year. And remember to be kind. God bless.

 

-Mr. Melville

 

10 August 2025