Melissa has been teaching for 29 years. Most of these years have been dedicated to middle school language arts and social studies classrooms. She has a passion for working with students beginning to learn English and for supporting students as they discover their writing abilities. Melissa is currently in a position in her district as the Multilingual Learner Coordinator for grades 6-12. In this role, she engages in instructional coaching, leads professional development, advocates for students and families, and facilitates communication and system development within the district’s multilingual learner program.