Grade/Subject: 10th and 11th Grade Pre-AP English II and AP Language and Composition
Ages of Students Served: 15–17 years olds
District: McAllen Independent School District
Melina Recio is a 2026 Teach Plus National Teacher Policy Cabinet Executive Cabinet Member and high school Pre-Advanced Placement English II and Advanced Placement Language and Composition teacher at McAllen High School in McAllen, Texas. She began her teaching career in 2012 as a Teach For America corps member in McAllen, where she continues to teach at her placement school.
In addition to her classroom role, Melina serves as co-department head and as a member of her district’s curriculum writing team, supporting high-quality instruction across all high school English classrooms. She was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Teacher Vacancy Task Force and also participated in a two-year Teacher Leadership Fellowship with the Texas Education Agency.
In 2019, Melina was recognized as the McAllen Independent School District Secondary Teacher of the Year. She is also a former TEDx speaker and was named a Texas A&M University College of Education and Human Development Dean’s Roundtable Honoree for transformational leadership in 2020.
Melina earned her BA in International Studies and Political Diplomacy from Texas A&M University and also holds a certificate in education finance from Georgetown University.
