Melissa Shungu is a 2023-2024 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow and a 1st grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary School in Champaign, Illinois. She has led professional development within the school community focused on equity and culturally responsive teaching, and she works to foster a classroom community with strong home-school relationships to affirm and empower all students and families. She previously served as a reading interventionist serving grades K-5 and taught 1st, 4th, and 5th grades. Melissa has led various professional development trainings related to social justice, identity, and diversity, and was selected to be a part of Champaign Unit 4 School District’s Education, Equity, and Excellence Committee. She earned her BA from Oberlin College with an independent major entitled education for social change, and her MA in teaching with K-6 teaching licensure from Tufts University.
