Melissa joined the Lifeline team in April 2021. She is native to St. Augustine, Florida. She serves as the national Program Manager of Families Count and has a passion for equipping local churches to serve vulnerable parents and children. Melissa graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from St. Leo University. She served in education for 23 years as an elementary teacher, virtual teacher, registrar, and test coordinator in St. Johns County, a Coordinator of Virtual Instruction for North Florida Educational Consortium, and Assistant Principal of Clay Virtual Academy in Clay County District Schools. Melissa is married to her husband, Doug and they have 4 children: Noah, Joshua, Sarah, and Rebekah. Melissa enjoys going to a local beach to soak up some vitamin sea and breathe the fresh air. She also enjoys creating simple projects and crafts on her Cricut machine. Melissa adores the beginning of each new season; each bringing something special to her year. “I love that I can work cohesively with like-minded colleagues; each being the hands and feet of our Heavenly Father.”