Melissa Jackson has been a teacher for 20 years in the same district. She began teaching her first love, theater, 12 years ago at the middle school level and was able to develop and write her own curriculum. She has watched the theater program blossom, grow, and expand into one of the best in the state of New Jersey. She is a graduate of MCCC’s theater arts program and also attended Montclair State University, participating in their acting/directing program as well as receiving a B.A. from Rider University where she double-majored in British Literature and Secondary Education. Most recently, Mrs. Jackson has also been working towards her Master's degree. Mrs. Jackson spends her summers as an acting teacher for Tomato Patch, a Visual & Performing Arts workshop offered at MCCC’s Kelsey Theater where she has directed Bugsy Malone Jr., High School Musical 2 Jr., and Camp Rock. Some of Melissa’s past acting credits include: Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum, Bananas in The House of Blue Leaves, Flo Owens in Picnic, and Lady Blues in Torch Song Trilogy. Most recently she returned to musical theatre performing in Hello, Dolly!.