Upon graduation from BPHS in 1970, Melodie Fear became a student at Utah State University pursuing a degree in English with a minor in communications. During her sophomore year, an aeronautic technology student at USU would literally sweep Melodie off her feet and she would marry Russell Good the following year. After his graduation in 1973, the couple would move from state to state before finally settling in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This provided the opportunity for Mrs. Good to resume her education and to attain a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of New Mexico.
While in Albuquerque, Melodie, along with a neighbor, were owner and operators of a gift shop and a home party business. With a purchase of a sod farm in nearby Belen, the opportunity became available for Melodie to start her career in education. An inspirational career that would encompass thirty-six years of educating New Mexico’s youth.
For the next fourteen years, Melodie would teach high school and middle school English at Belen Public Schools. During that time, she would serve as the sponsor for the Student Council, the National Honor Society and would act as chairperson for the English department. As chairperson, Mrs. Good wrote several grant proposals for the school. One such grant “The French Award” from New Mexico State University earned her and Belen High School state-wide recognition. As a result, Melodie Good spent a week at Xavier University in New Orleans to study vertical teaming, a systemic change for teachers working together to transition kids from one class to another.
In 2003, Mrs. Good went through a transition of her own as she entered in to education administration. For the next fourteen years, Mrs. Good served as assistant principal and principal in the las Lumas School District and again at the Truth or Consequences’ School District.
Retiring from the public educational system, Melodie quickly found herself as principal at St. Mary’s Catholic School in her hometown of Belen. During her eight-year stint at St. Mary’s, she significantly raised enrollment numbers, virtually saving the school from closure. As a result of her efforts, Mrs. Good was twice named Valencia County’s Best Principal of the Year.
In 2022, Melodie Good retired to her newest and most satisfying job of all, a chauffeur for her nine grandchildren at the Good compound where her three children along with their families reside.