Every student deserves a fair chance at an education. For Melissa Zepeda, Student Data Quality & Compliance Specialist I for the Riverside Northeast region, that belief is more than an idea. It is what has guided her 12-year career at Think Together.
Today, Melissa supports teams and students behind the scenes through collaboration, accountability, and a commitment to data accuracy.
The “Why” Behind It All
Melissa’s family, especially her siblings, has always been her biggest motivation. Growing up, Melissa and her older brother took on the responsibility of supporting their younger brother’s education because they wanted him to have the same opportunities as anyone else.
That experience shaped a belief she still carries today: Every student, no matter their background, deserves a fair chance at an education. Though she no longer works directly with students at a site. Melissa says that purpose continues to guide her work.
Melissa credits much of her mindset from her parents, who began working at a young age to support their own families. Their work ethic and determination to build a better future left a lasting impression on her.
Her mom’s advice especially stayed with her: “Hay una solución para todo, menos la muerte,” (“There’s nothing that can’t be fixed, except death”).
That perspective helped shape Melissa’s solution-oriented mindset and belief in encouraging others through challenges. Working in education has always been a passion for Melissa. She joined Think Together in 2014 as a Program Leader and immediately connected with the organization’s mission and commitment to students. Over the years, she took on different roles across the organization, but one thing stayed consistent: Think Together always felt like home.
How Melissa Cultivates Success
Melissa believes success starts with practicing open communication and creating a positive team culture. She leads with what she calls an “open cubicle” policy, encouraging site staff to easily reach out with questions or concerns. That openness also allows her to proactively support teams whenever she notices data discrepancies or challenges.
Recognition is equally important to Melissa’s leadership approach. She makes it a point to recognize the sites’ hard work and consistency, especially during their monthly regional meetings. She says that balance of support and recognition helps create a sense of accountability, friendly competition, and more importantly, helps teams stay motivated and take pride in their growth.
Melissa’s Guide to Collaboration and Data
Melissa’s priority is ensuring the data shared internally and externally is accurate and reliable. She audits site attendance and reviews attendance packets weekly to quickly identify and correct any discrepancies. This consistency has helped her region maintain a strong record, with zero missing or past-due packets.
Beyond the technical side of her role, Melissa collaborates closely with Executive Directors, Associate Directors, and Program Quality Compliance Specialists to help regions meet deadlines ahead of organization-wide timelines. She also hosts weekly open office hours where site teams can answer questions and receive support on challenges with attendance packets. For Melissa, her work goes beyond numbers and charts. It’s about helping teams stay aligned and equipped to serve students well.
She says curiosity, patience, and communication are some of the most important skills that make her effective in her role.
“Being willing to ask questions is essential, especially when something doesn’t look right,” she shared.
Most Memorable
Some of Melissa’s favorite memories at Think Together center creating fun and meaningful experiences for students.
One of her favorites was organizing a production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas two years in a row. It was truly a team effort. Students performed in the cast, designed decorations for the play, and families helped create costumes. For Melissa, it became a reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together.
Another memory that stayed with her involved a student who struggled academically and lacked confidence in herself. Melissa intentionally paired her with a Junior Program Leader to create a more encouraging environment. Over time, she watched the students begin to complete her homework more consistently and slowly participate more in activities. Most importantly, the student gained confidence in learning and growing.
One moment Melissa still remembers was when the student excitedly shared that her grades had improved.
“Seeing her believe in herself again was something I’ll never forget,” shared Melissa.
Beyond the Role
Melissa pours into her day-to-day work and uses her spare time to catch up on some much-needed sleep. But if it is an especially long and hectic week, you can find Melissa rewatching old 90’s TV shows. Her two favorites right now are The Nanny and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and she tends to go back and forth between them. Depending on the show, she likes to make it a fully cozy night in with her comfiest pajamas, a heated blanket, and her favorite snacks. She usually goes for Flamin’ Hot Fritos or peanut M&Ms, and sometimes popcorn for that sweet-and-salty mix. If she is really decompressing, she’ll throw in a glass of wine. It’s my way of unwinding and fully relaxing after a long day.
Outside of that, she really enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether that’s just hanging out or catching up. She also likes taking time to pamper herself by going out to eat, and when she can, traveling or getting out of town. Those moments help her balance out her routine and recharge in different ways.
Through four different Think Together roles, balancing data and compliance reports, and a few Christmas plays, Melissa has Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos (DTMF) as the soundtrack to her life. For her, it reflects on those moments spent with loved ones, being so present and caught up in the experience that you forget to take photos, only to later wish you had those memories captured. Family means a lot to Melissa, and this song really resonates with that feeling. It also brings up emotions around remembering people who are no longer here and appreciating the time we had with them. It’s a reminder for her to be more present and intentional in the moments she is living now.
