Melissa Petro Title: Writer Education: The New School, Antioch College Location: New York, NY Expertise: Sex, work, relationships and parenting In 2010, Melissa Petro found herself at the center of a media firestorm after being outed by the New York Post as a former prostitute-turned public school teacher. The story of how she subsequently lost her elementary school teaching career appeared everywhere from the New York Times to the Times of India, The Daily Mail (UK) to El Mundo. Hundreds of people publicly offered support including acclaimed author and TV host Janet Mock, outspoken comedian Chelsea Handler, and high profile women's rights attorney, Gloria Allred, who offered counsel pro-bono and stood by her side. Today, in addition to working as a freelance writer and writing instructor, she's a wife and full-time mother, topics she frequently explores in her writing. Experience Melissa's essays on sex, love, work, and motherhood have appeared in Marie Claire, Real Simple, and Pacific Standard Magazine, and on NY Magazine, Esquire, Allure, Instyle, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Guardian, Washington Post, and many other places. In 2015, she was chosen as one of three Finalist for the PEN America/Fusion Young Emerging Writer's Prize judged by John Freeman, Roxane Gay, and Cristina Henríque. This is an annual award that recognizes a promising young writer of an unpublished work of nonfiction that addresses a global and/or multicultural issues. Education MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN TEACHING CHILDHOOD EDUCATIONFordham University, New York, NY, graduated May 2009MASTERS IN FINE ARTS IN CREATIVE NONFICTIONThe New School, New York, NY, graduated May 2007BACHELORS OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY AND WOMEN’S STUDIESAntioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, graduated May 2002 About Parents Parents, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for trustworthy, empathetic, and supportive information and inspiration for your families. We reach 9 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists, fact checked, and reviewed by our Expert Review Board for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.