Meet Melanie Jones

Melanie Jones has been speaking to children, grades 1 through 6 on personal values since 1986. Her inspirational talks with children on topics such as appreciation, self-esteem, sharing, what it means to have a conscience and making personal choices have earned her the avid support of teachers and parents alike.

Melanie has been involved with children on a volunteer basis for many years as a tutor to first-graders in english and math, a pre-school teacher, an assistant in a private school for emotionally disturbed children, and for the past 14 years as an inspirational speaker in elementary schools. Now, she is making her services more widely available through her non-profit organization Speak To Children.

Speak To Children is the result of Melanie's life long dedication to enriching the lives of as many children as possible. Through her work, Melanie opens the door for children to talk about basic values that will help them become responsible, caring adults. She believes that it only takes one person to make a difference in the life of a child. Her simple formula offers tremendous insight for all of us who strive to do the same.

Board of Directors:

Advisory Board:

Gina L. Ferrante
17 years in Education.
Master teacher , Mentor Teacher, Gate Teacher, Curriculum Resource Specialist.
Vice Principal , and Presently a Principal in San Francisco's only National Blue Ribbon School of Academic Excellence
Masters in Education.

Deanna Staake
15 years in Education.
Teacher at Unified Inner city, Lenicai D. Weemes in Inner City of Los Angeles
Norwalk La Marada School District in Norwalk in an urban area
Taught at UES on UCLA Campus
Presenlty teachiing at the graduate school at UCLA as Field Supivsor
Masters in Education

Yulinda Song
Taught 1st grade in the Fremont Unified School District—a district recognized for its rigorous academic standards. During her first year there, she received the NUMMI award for promising new teacher. While teaching in Fremont, Yu Linda received GATE training and helped write a grant for a mentoring program at her school. She was a member of the Study Skills Committee, which made recommendations to the staff and parents regarding the importance of organization and study skills. Before moving to California, Yu Linda taught 3rd–5th grades, in multiage classrooms, at the Boston Renaisssance Charter School, an Edison Project Partnership Charter School; she enjoyed the opportunity there to help start a new school and teach inner-city children. Yu Linda received a B.A. in political science from Wellesley College, as well as a Massachusetts teaching credential. She also holds an Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, where educational policy was one of her interests.


"Through my talks I strive to protect and cultivate the precious wisdom and intuition inside each child. There are things we can teach children to help make living in this world a little easier. By speaking to children about the concept of lying for example, we can get children to consider the consequences associated with their choices. Children learn through experience. It is very real for a child to remember the first time they lied and how easy it is to lie again. That's why I give children the opportunity to remember and relate situations that reinforce their understanding of these concepts during my talks. I can not remember a time in my life when my desire to work with children did not exist. Even as a child myself and as an adolescent, I was always looking for ways to help children participate more effectively in the world around them. Perhaps it is because I remember what it is truly like to be a child. Or maybe, I was given a wonderful gift to be able to really see and understand children. Regardless, I believe that it is important to speak to children about topics that will enrich their lives and help them become great adults."

Stop and take the time to truly listen, Remember what it's like to be a child, and Reach out and speak from your heart.

   
Get Involved
Volunteering
Donations
Home