Books over Bars
Books over Bars
BreakFree Education
Learning Lab Episode #10: The Best-Kept Secret: Activating Unseen Potential in Science with Melissa Duncan
38 minutes Posted Nov 5, 2025 at 9:39 pm.
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In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Duncan, a passionate science teacher at Cammack Children's Center in West Virginia.

Melissa shares why she was drawn to Juvenile Justice education and why she believes JJ education is the best kept secret. We explore how she implemented the BreakFree initiative, Unseen. We discuss how engaging in hands-on work that is reviewed and celebrated by an authentic audience (including winning a national contest!) allows students to feel profoundly seen, challenging the negative narratives often placed upon them.

It’s a conversation about breaking misconceptions, building confidence, and activating the hidden potential of students.