Melissa McCrae

Melissa supports students with complex social-emotional and behavioural needs across specialized classrooms and the broader school community. Her work includes implementing targeted programs, supporting student participation, contributing to behaviour and student support plans, and collecting meaningful data. She collaborates with teachers, support staff, and administration, providing guidance and modelling practical, trauma-informed strategies.

During a temporary maternity-leave coverage assignment within her time at the Calgary Board of Education, Melissa supported kindergarten learning teams working with students with complex learning profiles. She helped translate multidisciplinary recommendations into classroom strategies, coached staff in implementation, and documented observations and progress to support adaptive skills and safer participation.

Melissa provided individualized support in a specialized classroom, helping students engage in academic and leisure activities, develop skills, and participate safely with peers and staff. She collaborated with the teacher on student support and individual program plans, with a focus on increasing classroom participation and independence.

Melissa progressed through several roles to a supervisory position supporting a team of more than 20 paraprofessionals. Her work included daily living skills, communication support using ASL/SEE, picture symbols and other augmentative methods, and implementation of individualized programming. She mentored staff, collaborated with treatment teams and families, advocated for clients in community settings, and supported intake and discharge processes alongside social workers.