Melissa Hughes is teacher and researcher with extensive knowledge and expertise in literacy instruction, educational psychology, and curriculum development. She has experience teaching preschool and kindergarten, as well as experience working with older elementary and middle school students in self-contained, inclusive, and ESOL classrooms. In addition, through her research in education, she works closely with administrators, teachers and students both in a teaching role and a professional development role. At George Mason, Melissa has created professional development focused on literacy and self-regulation and is currently on a 5-year project developing a digital writing graphic organizer to be used with upper elementary and middle school students. Melissa has presented at numerous educational conferences across the country and continues to publish her research in academic journals.
While Melissa is a Southern California native, she earned her undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Melissa also has a Masters of Business Administration from Boston University and a Masters of Education from George Mason University. She was awarded a leadership fellowship in Education from George Mason University and is currently in the PhD program at George Mason University, where her research focus is on curriculum design, literacy, and self-regulation (executive functioning).
Prior to becoming a teacher and working with students in grades PreK-12, Melissa worked at Intrax Cultural Exchange where she worked closely with international students in the United States. She was responsible for helping students to transition to their host family homes and for providing support to them while they were in the United States. While at Intrax Cultural Exchange, Melissa was also involved in professional development for the Area Directors at a national level.
Melissa resides in Oak Hill, Virginia with her husband Will and their four children. In addition to being closely involved in her children’s education at their schools, she enjoys traveling with her family, and staying involved in her children’s extra curricular activities.
