Melissa Rea

Melissa Rea is the Vice President of Chapter Services for Care to Learn. In this position, she works directly with superintendents and implements strategies to grow Chapter reach and ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of each school district partnership. 

Melissa joined the Care to Learn team in August 2017, serving in multiple roles, including Springfield Chapter Services Specialist, Clothing Closet Coordinator, Springfield Chapter Services Coordinator, and Director of Chapter Services. Under her leadership, the Care to Learn Closet Program, an initiative to provide on-site closets full of clothing staples and hygiene products for students, has grown immensely and is now available at every Springfield Public School site, serving as a model for other closet programs across the state.

Melissa graduated from Missouri State University and remains passionately involved in her community. She served as president of Queen City Sertoma and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. She was awarded Club and District "Sertoman of the Year" in 2015, and in 2023, Springfield Business Journal recognized her as one of the community's "40 Under 40."

When she’s not at Care to Learn, Melissa performs in several local bands in and around Springfield. She also enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her husband, Jim, and son, Archie.

Melissa's favorite part about working at Care to Learn is working alongside school district staff to set their Care to Learn Chapters up for success and long-term sustainability so their students can thrive.

Melissa's Favorite Care to Learn Memory:

“My favorite Care to Learn memories all involve working with our incredible Chapter Liaisons. Whether it’s going through the onboarding process for a new Chapter, training a new Liaison, or collaborating on the Liaison Conference, programs, or fundraising initiatives - these passionate educators never fail to amaze me with their creativity, resourcefulness, and passion for students.”