We’re pleased to introduce Melissa Perrone to the Bridges community! Melissa brings a deep love of reading and writing, a passion for math, and a strong commitment to helping students discover their confidence. With a winding path that took her from a tight-knit school in Illinois to classrooms across Portland, Melissa’s journey is rich with experience, purpose, and heart.
Hometown Chapters
Melissa grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Her father worked in finance and commuted into the city by train, while her mother was a dispatcher for a trucking company. The youngest of four siblings, Melissa was especially close to her three older brothers, who were her constant companions and role models.
She attended a small private Lutheran school, where she grew up with the same close group of classmates. “There were only 13 kids in my 8th grade graduating class,” she recalls. Melissa has always loved to read and write. She remembers being captivated as a young child by Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books and saw herself in the younger-sister energy of Ramona Quimby. “Now that I live in Ramona’s ‘birthplace’,” she says, “it feels like everything has come full circle.”
Three Schools, One Steady Spirit
High school brought a number of transitions. Melissa attended three different schools. First a private Lutheran high school, now called Walther Christian Academy, where she was awarded a scholarship based on her essay. Then Hinsdale Central for a brief stint. After her mom remarried and bought a new home in nearby Westmont, Melissa spent her Junior and Senior years at Downers Grove North. While adjusting to new environments wasn’t always easy, Melissa maintained close connections with a circle of friends she grew up with.
Delaying the Degree While Finding Direction
After high school, Melissa didn’t feel ready for college. Instead, she entered the workforce that allowed her to explore her interests and gain valuable life experience. One of those jobs—working as a paraeducator in a kindergarten classroom—sparked something. Supporting a young student named Maggie (who adorably called her “Miss Roni”) helped Melissa see that she was drawn to education.
Even so, she wasn’t ready to head back to school just yet. She worked for a time at a local tennis club and eventually made a big leap across country.
Making a Home in the PNW
In her mid-20s, Melissa decided to follow her brothers, who had all relocated to Oregon. “On trips to visit them, I fell in love with the scenery and being so close to the ocean and mountains. I really resonated with the Pacific Northwest vibe,” she recounts. During a memorable road trip to San Francisco, Melissa made the decision to move out west. “I visited my brothers for Christmas, and by that June, I rolled into town with everything I owned packed in my car.”
Melissa initially settled in North Portland and found work at the Portland Tennis Club in St. Johns.
Back to School with Purpose
At age 31—and seven months pregnant—Melissa enrolled at Concordia University to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Starting later in life gave her a clear sense of purpose. “You know what you want to do,” she says. “You’re ready to work for it and make it a priority.”
She majored in Education, immersing herself in coursework that confirmed her calling, such as Math for Teachers and child development classes. First in her family to earn a college degree, she graduated in 2014 with her young son, Kai, by her side.
While in college, Melissa worked as a nanny for a family whose son was just a few months older than Kai. The arrangement allowed her to balance motherhood, work, and school. “I wanted to set a good example for my son,” she says. “I knew one day he’d be where he is now—thinking about college—and I wanted to be able to help guide him from personal experience.”
From Subbing to Steady Classrooms
After graduation, Melissa continued working as a nanny before taking on substitute teaching roles across the Portland Public School District, including paraeducator assignments. Her experience grew steadily, and in 2016, she returned to Concordia to pursue her Master’s in Education.
She soon landed a long-term substitute position in a 4th grade classroom at David Douglas, where she completed her ESL practicum. From there, she subbed in Parkrose and at KairosPDX, where she was hired full-time in 2019. Over the next several years, Melissa taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, supported students during pandemic-era online learning, and even chaperoned multiple 5th grade trips to Washington, D.C.
Why Bridges?
Melissa had long heard of Bridges Middle School and was intrigued by its mission and community. “I was impressed by what the school does for neurodiverse learners,” she says. In her interview, she shared her deep interest in literacy and math, and her commitment to helping students who may not have seen themselves as strong learners—yet.
Aiming for Confidence, Curiosity, and Joy
At Bridges, Melissa is excited to help students build confidence and discover joy, especially in subjects like math. “It wasn’t my favorite growing up,” she says, “but now I really love it. I want to help students make that shift … to enjoy learning and feel good about themselves.”
Off the Clock
These days, Melissa lives in Vancouver, Washington, in a home she purchased in 2018. Her son, Kai, is now a high school sophomore, and together they share their home with two rescue dogs, Wally and Linus.
In her free time, Melissa enjoys reading, watching her son’s soccer games, attending live music, and paddleboarding in the summer. “What I like to do,” she laughs, “depends on Oregon’s weather.”
As she begins her next chapter at Bridges, Melissa is excited to join a community where every student is seen and supported. “It feels like a really special place,” she says. One that we’re confident will become even more special with Melissa as part of it.