This central California native grew up loving life outside, digging up , and running around to discover anything new she could uncover. All growing up, she was told she was slated towards humanities–NOT math. Like many, math was said with a sigh–until she had a math teacher in high school changed everything. He taught Mel the power of struggling through challenge and sticking with learning when it’s not easy. He empowered her to THINK and she discovered the victorious feeling of solving a puzzling puzzle! So this newfound confidence led her to pursue a math degree at Azusa Pacific University so that she could go back to the math classroom and help students perhaps discover superpowers they never knew they had.
Whilest studying math in college, she fell in love with summer camp work, and became a director of a beloved adventure program for kids grades K-11. Seven years later, she decided to pursue after a credential and Masters in Teaching. Along this journey, she found herself enamored with the entire philosophy of HTH, and now she can’t wait to dive in with the incredible Sophomores of Mesa! When not at school, Mel can be found going for long runs, discovering new hikes, having friends over for games, and cooking up a storm with her best friend and husband…the one and only Teddy Mackay (a 12th Grade English teacher at Mesa)!