ONTARIO, N.Y. (WROC)— Congratulations to Melissa Deane, our latest Golden Apple Award winner. Deane teaches first grade at Wayne Primary in Ontario, New York. Deane is one of those teachers that you can tell loves to teach. Principal Mitch Daly says, "Melissa does a great job meeting kids where they are. She goes out of her way to find what appeals to kids; what their strengths are, areas for improvement, and works hand in hand with parents to make sure kids are getting a good connection from home." Deane has been teaching first grade for 14 years and was nominated for a Golden Apple Award by two families that had students in her class last year. Parent Staci Giambrone says, "She's just a really caring individual and cares about what the kids are doing." Her son Frank says, "she was really fun, and she made learning really fun." Emmett Henry was in her class last year as well. He says, "so when it's Friday, if you have work you can do that but if you don't have any unfinished work to do you can go play." He remembers the fun he had last year, but his mom remembers how much he learned in Mrs. Deane's class. "When he first started in first grade, he was really struggling with reading and within a month of being with Mrs. Deane he was a completely different child and just so confident in everything he was doing," says Ashley Henry. After the surprise, Melissa Deane said, "I just love the kids, love the school, I love everyone I work with. It's just a really nice community and it feels like a big family." She always knew she wanted to teach. But over the years has found that teaching kids to read is really special. "I love teaching them how to read. It is my favorite thing, and they are just so fun every day is different," says Deane. A life-long lesson that all starts in first grade.