Melissa has been working is public education for over 20 years. After receiving her BA in Political Science through the University of Mary Washington, she started as a Teach for America teacher. Melissa was placed in Phoenix, Arizona where she completed three years of service at the elementary level. After relocating to Virginia, Melissa received her high school credential and spent 8 years teaching US History. After moving to San Diego, Melissa accepted a position at High Tech High and after two years in the classroom, she accepted the position of Dean of Students. She served High Tech at two separate schools over 9 years. During that time, she was asked to conduct workshops and speak on behalf of High Tech at numerous conferences and meetings. Melissa is a trained restorative practices trainer and loves sharing her passion for trauma informed classroom approaches with anyone who will listen. She believes strongly that culture is the most important part of any school.