CHSS Distinguished Alumni - Modern and Classical Languages

CHSS Distinguished Alumni 


Melissa Duluc

MA Foreign Languages '18

Melissa Duluc received her master’s degree in foreign languages, with concentrations in French and Spanish, from Mason in 2018. Throughout her studies at Mason, she served as a graduate teaching assistant for the French department. Shortly after graduating, she began teaching Spanish at McLean High School as a long-term substitute teacher. She excelled in her role and was soon hired for a permanent position for the 2019 academic school year. In 2021, Duluc was awarded the Fairfax County Public School’s (FCPS) Outstanding Secondary New Teacher award, which can only be awarded within the first three years of teaching. This award is given to one new secondary teacher in all of FCPS who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, maintains equity at the center of their work, and high academic achievement in their classes. Duluc encompassed all three of these categories by encouraging and increasing heritage speakers of Spanish to enroll in higher level language courses at McLean, which further led to more AP Spanish enrollment at the school. Duluc’s initiative resulted in higher academic achievement across all demographics in her classes as well as a strong sense of community.  

In addition, Duluc currently serves as a mentor to new teachers at her school, fostering collaboration and belonging among new staff. Through Duluc’s emphasis in diversity, inclusion and social justice in her Spanish classes, students understand how we all play a vital role in the future of humankind.