Melissa Reade Recipient of the Iowa Women's Foundation Ovation Award

posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in Grow Cedar Valley

We are beyond excited to share Grow Cedar Valley's Director of Leader Valley, Melissa Reade, is one of 10 women in the Cedar Valley region to be a recipient of the 2020 Iowa Women's Foundation Ovation Award! Leader Valley is a subsidiary of Grow Cedar Valley that works with schools in the Cedar Valley and across the state of Iowa to implement soft skills into k-12 curriculums that will help kids become future leaders.

Through the work of Leader Valley, Reade guides teachers, administrators, parents, and kids to help grow future leaders our community and world needs each day. This award comes as no surprise to us as Melissa's love for teaching and helping others inspires us all to do and be better. She challenges everyone around her to look at each day's challenges with a new perspective and how the simple shift in our mindset instantly turns a day around. 

Prior to Leader Valley Melissa’s professional experience includes roles as a middle school principal, elementary teacher, federal grant administrator, and director of a community-based mental health program. Melissa has been a lifelong learner at UNI and has earned her Doctorate in Education Leadership, as well as received her principalship certification, a masters in Literacy Education, and two Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary Education and Leisure Services: Therapeutic Recreation.

There will be an online unveiling reception tonight, Thursday, June 18 at 5:30 on Facebook to recognize the Cedar Valley's recipients. The Iowa Women's Foundation Ovation Award honors women and girls across Iowa who have had an impact on their families, friends, colleagues and communities, and at the same time, provide opportunities for women and girls in Iowa to reach their own goals and follow in these remarkable women’s footsteps. We are so proud of Melissa and the other women in the Cedar Valley who received this accomplishment! Thank you for making a difference for those in the Cedar Valley community and Iowa!

Picture left, Melissa with co-worker Teri Trask.