Melissa Wierenga 

About Me
Melissa Wierenga, MA (she/her)
I am a certified teacher with experience in Elementary Education, Special Education, and Early Literacy Instruction, Coaching, and Consulting.  I have been supporting children, their families, and educators for  years within the education systems in Southwest Michigan.

Since graduating from Western Michigan University in Special Education in 2009 and again in 2015 with my Masters in Literacy Studies, it has been my mission to serve children and families to provide access to individualized learning goals and high quality intervention plans.  By empowering children to be self-aware through their learning process, children become more comfortable, engaged and confident in their abilities to learn. 

As a coach, I work with educators to navigate their professional responsibilities, find creative solutions to balance the workload, and support ways towards restoring the joy of teaching and learning.  The world around us continues to evolve and change and so do school environments.  What we as educators once thought of as being a classroom teacher, doesn't really exist anymore and as new teachers come into the field, their teacher-prep may not match the realities of the classroom landscape.  

As a wife and mom, I enjoy family time watching movies, going on hikes, and watching my son play golf and soccer. I also find joy in weight lifting, writing, camping, and traveling.  You can often find me trying out a new local spot in Kalamazoo, drinking coffee at Factory Coffee, or buying books at This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug.

What I do

For Parents
As an Educational Consultant I support parents as you navigate the school system to ensure you and your child receive appropriate supports and services.  As your educational consultant, I support you with tools that make you feel more informed, empowered, and engaged with your child's education experience. I am committed to creating a safe space where your child can explore and learn about their strengths in order to leverage those strengths in an education setting.

For Educators
As an Educational Consultant I support teachers with professional tools and resources to support work/life balance.  Through coaching, we work alongside each other to explore effective communication strategies in addition to self-care planning.  I acknowledge the unique and overwhelming challenges it is to be an educator.  In educator community sessions, I offer a safe community for educators to share in their challenges and renew their passion for teaching and learning.