Mellissa Guerra
Hammond
Summary
Proactive and versatile professional with a dedication to quickly adapting to new challenges. Strong problem-solving abilities and a proven track record of fostering strong relationships with clients and team members. Focused on supporting team success and achieving positive results.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Kindness committee chair
PTA
Hammond
08.2025 - Current
- Lead meetings to discuss kindness initiatives and community involvement.
- Coordinate events to promote parental engagement and student success.
- Collaborate with school administrators to address student needs and concerns.
- Develop strategies to enhance communication between parents and teachers.
- Facilitate workshops to educate parents on bullying and how to recognize and address it.
- Organize fundraising activities to support our district's kindness campaign
- Managed volunteer recruitment for our inaugural basketball fundraiser.
- Developed communications strategies by creating detailed project timelines and stakeholder outreach channels which led to raising $8,000 in sponsorships for our inaugural fundraiser.
- Facilitate open dialogue among team members during meetings by encouraging participation from all individuals present.
- Sought out new opportunities for collaboration between departments and organizations that could benefit from working together.
- Collaborate with other committees as needed to ensure objectives are met within specified timelines.
- Maintain accurate records of all committee proceedings and decisions for future reference.
- Coordinate with external vendors as needed when procuring supplies or services related to the work being done by the committee.
- Cultivate strong relationships with stakeholders, including community leaders and government officials, in order to facilitate communication between parties involved in the project.
- Oversee and coordinate the activities of committee members to ensure successful completion of tasks.
- Cultivate positive relationships with support staff and school leadership through regular communication.
- Provided organizational leadership for our inaugural fundraiser by recruiting and leading a team of 130 volunteers.
- Exceeded sales goal of $10,000 for our inaugural fundraiser through relationship building and community outreach as well as strategically posting on social media.
School Board Trustee
School City Of Hammond
Hammond
01.2025 - Current
- Advocate for student needs during board meetings and community forums.
- Collaborate with educators to develop policies supporting educational excellence.
- Review budgets to ensure responsible allocation of resources for programs.
- Engage with parents and community members to gather feedback on school initiatives.
- Oversee compliance with state education regulations and district policies effectively.
- Analyze school performance reports, recommending changes to increase student success.
- Participate in professional development activities designed to enhance knowledge of current trends in education policy.
- Provide guidance to the Superintendent of Schools, ensuring district policies were followed.
- Attend and participate in School Board meetings, providing input on educational topics.
- Review financial statements and budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility.
- Collaborate with other board members to create new policies and procedures for the district.
- Develop strategies to improve communication between the board and stakeholders in the community.
- Collaborate with community non-profit agencies and community leaders in pursuit of shared goals.
- Leverage mediation techniques to facilitate communication between parents, school administration and teachers.
- Cultivate positive relationships with parents and staff to facilitate school operations and student success.
- Confer with parents and staff to discuss educational activities, policies and student behavior or learning problems.
- Resolve various situations to cultivate strong student and parent relationships.
PTA Council President
PTA
Hammond
04.2024 - Current
- Lead council meetings to discuss parent-teacher initiatives and community engagement.
- Coordinate events to foster family involvement and strengthen school connections.
- Manage thirteen school PTA units in a district with 10,000 students
- Oversee budget planning for various PTA projects and community outreach programs.
- Communicate regularly with parents and various unit board members to gather feedback and address concerns effectively.
- Develop training materials for new council members to ensure smooth transitions.
- Foster partnerships with local businesses to enhance support for school activities.
- Represent the PTA at district meetings, advocating for educational resources and needs.
- Develop and implement a strategic plan to ensure council goals were met.
- Maintain records of past decisions made by the council in order to inform future initiatives.
- Act as spokesperson for the council when communicating with external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with civic organizations to promote public engagement and advocacy for students in local government matters.
- Organize monthly meetings for the council, ensuring agendas were set and topics discussed.
- Resolve conflicts between members of the council units by facilitating constructive dialogue.
- Create and maintain an open dialogue with members of the community and council units in order to understand their needs and concerns.
- Provide guidance and oversight to other member units of the council during decision-making processes.
- Propose new initiatives to improve existing programs and services.
- Initiate and maintain professional relationships with city, county, state, federal and other municipal government offices in order to further PTA initiatives and outcomes for our students and community.
- Respond to member unit concerns and develop and execute plans to address issues that arise.
- Uphold strong member relations with public meetings, community events, and robust feedback system.
- Attend dinners and special events to meet people and develop relationships.
- Raise money for programs with careful planning and execution of fundraisers.
- Determine program strategies for media advertising and community involvement.
Bus Driver
RSI Truck and Bus
Hammond
05.2014 - Current
- Operate bus safely in compliance with traffic regulations.
- Manage daily vehicle inspections to ensure safety and functionality.
- Provide exceptional customer service to passengers during trips.
- Navigate various routes efficiently using GPS systems.
- Document trip logs and reported any issues to management.
- Perform pre-trip inspection and mechanical checks before scheduled run.
- Verify that all passengers were seated before operating the bus.
- Operate wheelchair lifts as needed to assist passengers with special needs onto the bus safely.
- Greet customers in a friendly manner when boarding the bus.
- Maintain daily logs of vehicle inspections, trips, hours worked and other pertinent information.
- Monitor traffic conditions along assigned routes in order to plan alternate routes if necessary.
- Provide courteous customer service while answering questions regarding routes and schedules.
- Operate bus professionally and interacted with passengers to foster pleasant rides.
- Drive established routes and maintained knowledge of streets and stops to deliver positive passenger experiences.
- Help unload luggage from buses upon arrival at destination stops.
- Facilitate smooth passenger loading and unloading at designated route stops.
- Inspect vehicles and check gas, oil and water levels prior to departure.
- Handle passenger emergencies or disruptions.
Teacher
School City of East Chicago
East Chicago
08.2016 - 05.2017
- Implemented classroom management strategies to maintain a positive learning environment.
- Managed student behavior in classroom by establishing and enforcing rules and procedures.
- Provided individualized instruction to meet the needs of all students.
- Participated in professional development workshops related to teaching methods or curriculum changes.
- Utilized technology-based learning tools to enhance classroom instruction.
- Collaborated with colleagues to plan lessons that integrate various subject areas into a cohesive unit of study.
- Collaborated with colleagues to enhance curriculum and instructional methods.
- Assessed student progress through various evaluation tools and techniques.
- Conducted parent-teacher conferences to discuss student performance and goals.
- Adapted teaching techniques based on individual learning styles and abilities.
- Maintained a safe and orderly learning environment for all students.
- Built and strengthened positive relationships with students, parents, and teaching staff.
- Prepared and maintained classroom environments appropriate for student learning and physical, social and emotional development.
- Developed and implemented lesson plans based on curriculum objectives.
- Created meaningful projects that allowed students to apply their knowledge in real world situations.
- Utilized technology such as interactive whiteboards and online resources to enhance instruction.
- Assessed student performance through tests, quizzes and other assessments.
- Encouraged critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies among students.
- Implemented behavior management strategies to maintain classroom discipline.
- Remained calm and patient in student interactions to support individual growth and development.
- Prepared and graded subject tests for students.
Church bus worker
First Baptist Church of Hammond
Hammond
08.2011 - 05.2014
- Assisted in organizing community events and church activities.
- Maintained cleanliness and orderliness of church bus and facilities.
- Collaborated with volunteers to support various outreach programs.
- Coordinated transportation for families attending church functions.
- Communicated regularly with leadership regarding progress of projects and completed tasks.
- Established professional working relationships with leadership and other volunteers.
- Trained new volunteers on established procedures and processes.
- Collaborated with other departments to resolve issues during outreach operations.
- Communicated with parents and leaders answer questions and address complaints.
- Coordinated materials to be distributed to attendees for programs we hosted.
- Monitored and directed routes of new volunteers.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Education
Hyles-Anderson College
Crown Point, IN 08.2011 - 05.2014
Skills
- Meeting facilitation
- Fundraising strategy
- Community outreach
- Policy development
- Event coordination
- Stakeholder engagement
- Budget oversight
- Relationship building
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Excellent communication
- Motivational skills
- Effective leadership
- Results-oriented mindset
- Collaborative mindset
- Teamwork
Timeline
Kindness committee chair
PTA
08.2025 - Current
School Board Trustee
School City Of Hammond
01.2025 - Current
PTA Council President
PTA
04.2024 - Current
Teacher
School City of East Chicago
08.2016 - 05.2017
Bus Driver
RSI Truck and Bus
05.2014 - Current
Church bus worker
First Baptist Church of Hammond
08.2011 - 05.2014
Bachelor of Science - Education
Hyles-Anderson College
08.2011 - 05.2014