ABOUT
MELISSA
Melissa Joy Benton is an educator and coach committed to providing frameworks and tools to empower students to achieve their personal and professional goals through communication.
She fosters a learning environment that is engaging and inclusive to support students to take risks, find strength in their vulnerability, and strive to share their story in powerful ways. Melissa challenges and nurtures students by framing curriculum and the classroom experience to meet students on their path toward a deeper understanding of communication principles and greater confidence in communication skills.
Melissa Joy Benton is an accomplished storyteller that uses communication skills to build meaningful connections and builds community in innovative ways. Through the use of technology, social media, and online learning tools in unique ways, she engages students with different learning and communication styles inside and out of the classroom. Melissa believes that every student can succeed as storytellers and communicators as long as equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and resources.
Melissa Joy Benton has a vision of a world transformed by students that are empowered to use communication principles to improve their personal and professional
lives and build communities of respect and acceptance.
EXPERIENCE
Throughout her career, she has facilitated the growth of the next generation of our leaders within our schools, workplaces, and communities that leverage communication skills to make the world more engaging, dynamic, and accepting.
INCLUSIVE LEARNING
Melissa believes that each classroom needs to be an equitable community. She empowers her students through democratic teaching approaches that are grounded in learning and respecting the experiences within each community. Throughout her career, Melissa has built inclusive learning communities by:
Designing creative approaches to learning
through democratic and collaborative teaching styles
Leveraging learning opportunities
that blend multiple academic and co-curricular experiences
Integrating web-enhancements
To engage students in and outside of the classroom
STORYTELLING
FOR GROWTH
Melissa believes that each student has a unique personal and professional journey and she supports her students in sharing their own experiences. By helping her students articulate their accomplishments, goals, and visions for their future in compelling ways, she helps students foster meaningful connections and attain valuable opportunities. She has helped her students find growth through storytelling by:
Teaching crucial interpersonal communication skills
for their future work with a diverse range of clients, partners, and colleagues
Incorporating forensics and debate experiences
and learning models to strengthen students as advocates
Melissa believes that it is her role as an educator to help her students succeed in applying what they’ve learned together in their personal and professional lives. She catalyzes her students’ continued development by connecting them with opportunities for growth. She has been a valuable mentor and coach to her students by:
Inspiring students in pathways to continue their education
at the community college, 4-year college, and graduate levels
Supporting students to
attain internships, scholarships, and awards
Building programs that allow students to successfully
participate in public speaking and debate competitions
MENTORING
AND COACHING
CONTACT
Melissa wants to connect with you!
Send her an email below or give her a call at
314-324-7194