Melissa Nelson

My name is Melissa Nelson, and my goal is to uplift and empower children on their learning journey. As a child, I struggled with reading and know firsthand how it affected my self-esteem. After receiving the help I needed, reading went from something that used to make me want to run and hide to one of my greatest loves. I would spend my allowance every week on little paperbacks, and I also loved to write stories.

I now hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Central Florida, am a published author, and have completed 40 hours of Orton-Gillingham training through the Orton-Gillingham Academy. With over 10 years of experience as both a surf instructor and a substitute teacher for Brevard Public Schools, I bring a strong background in teaching and working with children. At RightMinds Tutoring, I use the Orton-Gillingham approach to grow confident, capable readers, tailoring instruction to each student’s unique needs and always focusing on what they can do.

In addition to my instructional work, I spearheaded our “Seas the Day” private surf lessons, giving students the opportunity to build confidence and resilience while catching waves every Friday morning from 9–11 a.m.

I am married to my best friend, Matt, and a proud mama bear to two young boys. On most weekends, you can find us together at the beach. I am grateful to be part of RightMinds Tutoring and to work alongside like-minded educators who are passionate about empowering children and showing them that the sky’s the limit—Words have Wings!