Melanie felt the calling to become an educator when she was six years old, and has spent her entire adult life working with children in various roles. She holds a Bachelors in History and Education from Southern Oregon University, and a Masters in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College.

After earning her teaching license, she began teaching in Portland Public Schools. Despite her love for education, she found herself disheartened by her work. During Covid, she re-evaluated her values and discovered that they were not in alignment with her work. She enrolled in a second Masters program studying Humane Education through Antioch University, hoping to discover an approach to education that felt right in her heart.

During her classes, she expressed her desire to “teach children what it means to be human.” After graduation, her mentor suggested she look into Waldorf education. Melanie was intrigued and enrolled in the Foundations course through the Micha-el Institute. She quickly discovered that this is the educational path she had been seeking, and promptly enrolled in the teacher training program after completing the Foundations course. Melanie loves how the curriculum is rooted in child development, as well as the creative ways in which she is able to enliven the content. As a lifelong learner, Melanie loves that this work encourages her to learn and grow alongside her students.