Melissa Knutsen will be our 4th-grade teacher this year at Ivywood. She comes with a wealth of experience and has found her niche in the academic world.
She is a firm believer in classical education, as evidenced by the fact that she came all the way from Maine to attend Hillsdale College. She double majored in Political Economy and French and then received her MA in International Law and Organization from George Washington University.
Teaching is a second career for her. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mother, she was a fundraiser, strategist, and event planner for political and nonprofit organizations. However, after soul-searching, she realized that was not her calling. Instead, she wanted to do something more meaningful if she was going to reenter the workforce.
As a nurturing person who is comfortable in the academic world, she decided to substitute teach for a couple of years at her sons’ school to see if she liked teaching. She fell in love with education and decided this was her real calling! She quickly earned her interim teaching certificate through the Teachers of Tomorrow program and was beyond thrilled to learn about Ivywood Classical Academy.
Outside of the classroom, she stays very busy with her husband, three sons and a dog. They love to ski, boat and hike together (well, the dog doesn’t ski, but he does boat and hike with them). She is also a certified group fitness instructor and teaches classes at LifeTime Fitness in Canton.
We can’t wait to see Mrs. Knutsen with her amazing 4th graders at Ivywood Classical Academy!