Melissa Isaac appointed to Mt. Pleasant Public Schools Board of Education
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The Mt. Pleasant Public Schools Board of Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Isaac as a trustee.
The board voted this month to appoint Isaac to fill the remaining term of a vacant board seat expiring in December 2024.
“As an alumna of Mt. Pleasant Public Schools, I'm honored to serve my hometown and community in this capacity,” Isaac said. “I’m a proud member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and am thrilled to bring my experience and passion for education to the board. I look forward to working with members of the board, the administration and staff, students, families and community members to make a positive impact on our district.”
Isaac brings more than 16 years of experience in the education field. She currently leads the Indigenous Education Initiative for the Michigan Department of Education and previously served as educator director for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, among other roles. She also taught at the Saginaw Chippewa Academy.
In March, Isaac was a guest of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for the State of the Union. The honor followed Biden’s October 2021 visit to Mt. Pleasant to discuss Project AWARE, a program Isaac launched with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to provide local students, staff and families with unique, trauma-informed resources and support to promote their mental health and wellbeing.
Earlier this year, Isaac was part of the second class to complete the Advance Native Political Leadership Institute.
“Melissa has been a great partner to our district through her roles at the Tribe and the Department of Education,” said Superintendent Jennifer Verleger. “We appreciate her dedication to help ensure our students and staff have the resources and support they need to succeed.”