Melissa believes the most powerful schools are places where both students and adults experience transformative learning, shared purpose, joy, and belonging every day. Over the past two decades, she has worked alongside educators to reimagine schools through project-based learning, learner-centered practices, and transformative leadership.

Before joining Learner-Centered Collaborative, Melissa served as Director of Leadership Development at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education, where she coached school and district leaders, co-directed the New School Creation Fellowship, co-founded the Leading for Deeper Learning Institute, and taught in the Educational Leadership M.Ed. program.

Melissa’s journey began as a teacher at international schools in Cairo, Egypt, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before she joined High Tech High in 2006. She spent nearly a decade leading two High Tech High schools, including serving as the founding director of High Tech Middle Chula Vista, where she worked alongside students, educators, and families to co-create a vibrant project-based learning community.

Today, she continues to support schools and systems across the United States and internationally in creating equitable, learner-centered experiences that prepare every learner and educator to thrive. Melissa earned a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and master’s degrees from George Mason University and the HTH Graduate School of Education. 

Strengths
Individualization, Learner, Intellection, Strategic, Travel Enthusiast

Education Roles
Lifelong learner, International School Educator, Middle School Project-Based Learning Teacher, School Leader, Leadership Coach, Adult Learning Facilitator, M.Ed Program Faculty, Director of Leadership Development, Co-Director of New School Creation Fellowship, Curator of Beautiful Student Work

San Diego, CA