Melissa Stanis

Brainstormer, Concerned citizen, Musician, Parent

An East Coast native, a career in film music brought me West at the turn of the century. I worked in LA as a film and TV music editor for a variety of movies and weekly crime dramas. Eventually, the hustle and bustle of LA stopped being fun and my husband accepted a job transfer to Northern California. My greatest job, as mom, began shortly after we moved. Wanting to make our school experience the best it can be (and missing the mental stimulation of the working world), I've become an active member and volunteer in our school and community. This past year I helped launch our elementary school's new Makerspace - a place where students are encouraged to fail, re-evaluate and try again. Knowing that schools benefit from community involvement, I volunteer in ways that inspire and motivate me. From advisory councils, to tax oversight, to fundraising for our school library, to helping in the classroom, I am involved in many aspects of our school community. In the remaining few hours of the week, I am rekindling my love of the piano, learning how to care for chickens, crocheting a blanket for my son, and occasionally finishing a book from the ever-growing stack. I'm also rehabbing my knee after four surgeries in three years, with the goal of hiking again.

Access to education, human rights, womens rights, equality, animal welfare, good ice cream.

cracking an egg with one hand.