Welcome to Life Skills! My name is Melissa Rigsbee. I am married and have 2 children (19, 13). I love to travel and my children and I are theme park enthusiasts. If we are not camping, we can likely be found at a theme park. I was a stay-at-home mom/full-time college student while my children were young. Once my youngest started school, I went back to working full time. I graduated from NC Wesleyan College in 2013 with a BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice magna cum laude. I have always wanted to be a teacher, so after working with preschool-aged students for a while, I decided to go back to school to get my teaching license through William Peace University. Special education has had a very special place in my heart since my youngest was developmentally delayed, had seizures, and couldn't talk until he was almost 5. Without his team, he would not be where he is today!It truly takes a village! I believe that all students have the ability to learn, we just have to work together to figure out how each student learns best. I started at Polenta Elementary in January 2021. Before Polenta, I did my student teaching at a high school in the Life Skills Classrooms where I had been an instructional assistant for 3 years. I look forward to helping your child grow and learn.