Her Story
About Melissa
Melissa Mcphun is a tutor and adult educator based in Martinez, California, where she has built a career centered on empowering learners at every stage of life. She operates her own tutoring business serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, while also guiding adults through GED preparation, English as a Second Language instruction, and career-readiness coursework. Her educational foundation includes an undergraduate degree in humanities from San Francisco State University and a teaching credential earned through the University of Phoenix. She is currently furthering her expertise by pursuing an additional degree in Adult Education and ESL, which will grant her a more specialized credential in the field.
Mcphun's path to education was far from linear. In the 1990s, she earned a certificate in telecommunications and spent years building a successful career in software and high-tech sales. After teaching for roughly five years in the early 2000s, she transitioned into corporate roles spanning stem cell sales and data storage before ultimately returning to the classroom about four years ago. This diverse professional background — spanning enterprise channel sales, account management, and technology partnerships — gave her a broad perspective on business and communication that she now brings into her teaching practice, particularly when preparing adult students for career transitions of their own.
Beyond the classroom, Mcphun has remained engaged with her professional and local community. She has been an active member of the Alliance of Women in Channel, reflecting her continued ties to the tech and sales industries even as her focus shifted toward education. She is also exploring opportunities to serve on the City of Martinez board, signaling her interest in extending her commitment to community development beyond her teaching work. Known for treating others with kindness and respect, Mcphun attributes much of her professional success to a strong work ethic and a belief that the way she treats people is ultimately reflected back to her.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to how I treat people. I try to treat everyone with kindness, and I find that it comes back to me in kind. I also credit a strong work ethic — in high school, someone once told me I couldn't read, and that only pushed me to work harder to achieve everything I have today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to work hard and treat everyone with respect, because you never know what someone else is going through.
I've also come to believe in being the kind of employee I would want working for me — putting in the same effort I'd expect from someone working for me.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering this field to work hard, stay focused, and treat people with kindness.
I'd also encourage them to keep an open mind. Don't limit yourself to teaching just one subject or area — stay open to all the opportunities that education has to offer.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field is that good teachers are always in demand — this industry is constantly hiring.
At the same time, one of the real challenges is that pursuing further degrees can be financially difficult, especially as a single woman on a teacher's salary. Teaching itself is also tough, particularly when it comes to navigating relationships with parents.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The value I hold most important is that you get what you give. If you're kind to people and good to them, that kindness comes back to you. I try to live by treating people the way I want to be treated.
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