Melissa Galang Han Ed.D. is Director of High Tech Elementary Explorer, where she partners with teachers and families to love students well. Melissa’s 15 years of teaching in elementary school classrooms have been rooted in curiosity, listening, and learning to harness student voice that guides the creation of minds-on hands-on learning environments where students are happier and the role of teaching is transformed.

Melissa’s action research at High Tech High’s Graduate School of Education was instrumental in anchoring her teaching in student voice. Melissa was led by more fierce wonderings to pursue research at UCSD and CSUSM’s Joint Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, where she focused on understanding which key components of an educational system support student-centered learning for both children and teachers. Her commitment to investigating student-centered education even took her to Finland as a U.S. Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching Fellow to observe how the Finnish build and sustain student-centered schools. These experiences have solidified Melissa’s desire to create and facilitate transformative structures with teachers to effectively build understanding of how to love students even better, together.

Outside of the classroom, Melissa loves laughing with her husband and three children. Oh also, if you need K-drama recommendations, she has you covered!