She is a veteran educator, having served for two decades as a teacher, district coach, assistant principal, and principal in three distinctly different public school districts in Michigan. As a professor of practice, Melissa is a mentor for aspiring school leaders. She has a deep investment in bridging theory to practice and is committed to fostering systems that better support students living in poverty. Particularly noteworthy is her work on developing the leadership capacity of leaders, teachers and staff as a means of supporting and sustaining continuous school improvement. Melissa also continues to assume leadership roles in organizations that serve Michigan practitioners and students. She is a 2017 UCEA Excellence in Education Award recipient. Follow her @MelissaUsiak.