Melissa joined the Baker faculty in 2006, bringing with her a wealth of teaching experience from across the country. Before arriving in the Midwest, she taught First Grade in California, Second Grade in Florida, and Pre-K in Michigan. Melissa holds a B.A. from San Francisco State University, an M.A. from Pepperdine University, and maintains CLAD (Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development) Certification.

She views First Grade as a “magical year” and loves guiding students as they explore their curiosity and embrace new challenges. Outside the classroom, Melissa enjoys exploring Chicago with her family and has set a personal goal to learn a new musical instrument this year.