Meet Melissa

Boozhoo Indiniwemaagaanag. Waabizii Kwe N’dizhnikaaz. Nme N’doodem. Saginaw Chippewa Akii N’doonjibaa.

Hello Relatives. My English name is Melissa Isaac. I am sturgeon clan. I am a citizen of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

I am a candidate, hoping to secure your vote to be elected to the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools Board of Education. I currently hold an appointed seat on the board. I have served in this position since October 2022. With your vote, I can retain my seat.

I am the wife of Nathan Isaac. We met back in the 1900’s. 1999 to be exact. He is a former Kindergarten, Anishinaabe Culture and Language Teacher. After 20 years, he is no longer in the classroom but continues to be a teacher of our Anishinaabe culture and language. Together we raise four beautiful children. 

I am a graduate of Mt. Pleasant Public Schools. Class of 1995. Go Oilers! I have an associates of arts in Elementary Education from what is now Mid-Michigan College, formerly Mid Michigan Community College. I graduated from Central Michigan University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Education (elementary emphasis). I hold a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in Leadership from Central Michigan University. I am currently a doctoral candidate in the Educational Doctorate program, K-12 Leadership.

Professionally, I have over 20 years of combined experience as an elementary teacher, Tribal School Principal, and Director of Education for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Currently, my official title with the Michigan Department of Education’s Indigenous Education Initiative is Gizhwaasod. In my ancestral language this translates to Protector of the Young. I also own a small consulting business, Edukwe Consulting LLC, where I work with Tribal Nations and different organizations in various ways to support tribal nations building efforts.

My family and I enjoy participating in cultural gatherings throughout the United States and Canada. When we are not traveling, we spend as much time as we can on the many lakes in our beautiful state.