Melissa is a native Californian who has spent her life bouncing back and forth between her hometown of Los Angeles and her adopted home of Dubuque, Iowa. Melissa graduated from Hempstead, then went on to attend the University of Iowa where she received her bachelor’s degree in political science then returned to Los Angeles where she received her California teaching license and Masters degree in education from Pepperdine University.
Melissa is passionate about the importance of building community in a classroom and making sure that the social-emotional needs of all students are met in order to ensure that authentic learning is taking place.
Melissa joins the Challenge to Change team as our Education Staff Writer and Yoga Teacher. She completed her Kids, Teen, and Toddler Yoga Teacher Training and is pursuing her 200 Hour YTT.