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Melissa Ellison

Virginia State Manager

Melissa has been married to her husband, Michael, for almost 20 years and has five children - Sarah, Jonathan, Rachel, Matthew and Nathaniel.

With a degree in Decision Sciences from George Mason University, she worked five years as a cost analyst in the defense industry before she had her first child and was blessed to be able to stay at home. Seven years later she began to investigate home schooling. She didn't know anyone that home schooled, but felt a "tugging at her heart" to keep her children home with her and to be able to not only teach them academics but to train them "in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6)." After much consideration and prayer, she and her family embarked on their home school journey.

Not knowing anything other than traditional schooling and textbooks, she soon was overwhelmed with all she had to teach to three children at three different levels (and a 4th quickly approaching school age). That was when she was introduced to Classical Conversations by a good friend. It was an answer to her prayers! Melissa and her children began Classical Conversations in 2005. In 2006 and 2007 she served as a Foundations Director for the Front Royal community.

"It is wonderful to not only understand, but to be able to use the classical model with the three stages of learning - grammar, dialectic and rhetoric - not only for my children but for me also! As their teacher, I have better tools to learn and teach them to learn any subject. To see the potential in my children and be able to give them the 'pegs of learning' is tremendous, not to mention the fellowship and encouragement with other like-minded mothers."

"As Virginia State Manager, I am excited to be able to work alongside directors in promoting the program and developing new areas for Classical Conversations communities. My heart's desire is truly 'to know God and to make Him known' in the state of Virginia.".