Submitted story

October is National and Ohio Principals Month. School principals play a critical role in the success of the school’s students and staff. During October, Urbana City Schools would like to highlight the work of its three head principals: Melanie Anders, Urbana Elementary; Scott Blackburn, Urbana Junior High; and Nathan Sever, Urbana High School. Our principals were asked a series of questions, and their responses will give you valuable insight into who they are and their outstanding work every day.

Melanie Anders is the principal of Urbana Elementary School from kindergarten through fifth grade. She has two elementary assistant principals, Daniel Kaffenbarger and Melissa Erter, who also support her in her work.

What inspired you to pursue a career in education and eventually step into a leadership role?

Growing up as one of the oldest of six children, I had a natural desire to teach and nurture the younger ones from an early age. My mom often recalls how I taught my sister Maureen to read when she was just four years old and how I turned our basement/cellar into a neighborhood classroom, with me proudly taking on the role of the teacher. As a child, I was more introverted, yet I felt comfortable in taking on leadership roles. From an early age, I enjoyed taking the lead and would write and direct plays for my peers. I wore out the ribbons on my mom’s manual typewriter, sitting there for hours creating “scripts” for my classmates! Education has always been a passion of mine, and I grew up in a time when women were expected to stay home with their children. There were also financial challenges with a large family that could not support education beyond high school. My father sometimes worked three jobs while my mother stayed home to care for the six of us. I knew that if I wanted a leadership role, I understood that the decision would depend on my personal choices and the path I took in my life.

After high school, I was determined to make it happen. I began working full-time as a secretary for the Dean at Urbana University (then Urbana College), which allowed me to receive financial support through tuition remission. I moved on campus, worked during the day, took classes at night, and even became a cheerleader for the basketball team. It was during this time that I met a basketball player who eventually changed my path to marriage and a family. I still never lost sight of my goal to finish my college education. I worked in various leadership jobs, including owning my own retail business for eight years, but my heart was always set on teaching. Over the course of 20 years, with the encouragement of some incredible people who believed in me, I continued to take classes whenever I could. When I finally reached my goal and stepped into my first kindergarten classroom, I knew I had found my true calling!

As a lifelong learner, I hit the ground running as a leader. I actively participated in many committees, learned from experienced teachers and administrators, pursued two Master’s degrees, and embraced every opportunity out there to grow as a leader in education. My passion for education had only deepened over the years, leading me to want to take on more leadership roles within my school district. It’s hard to imagine doing anything else now (although I do dream of writing children’s books someday, too!) My leadership journey has been lengthy and filled with many challenges, yet it has also brought me a lot of joy and immense fulfillment. The experiences I’ve had and the invaluable lessons I’ve learned along the way have all contributed to shaping the educator and leader I aspire to be every day.

Are there any specific initiatives or programs you are excited about implementing?

I am particularly excited about the implementation of Ohio’s Science of Reading initiative and the introduction of Career STEM Connections (CSC) for our elementary students. These initiatives represent a significant shift in how we approach both literacy and STEM/Career education at the foundational level and I believe they have the potential to make a profound impact on our students’ futures.

The Science of Reading initiative, through the CKLA and 95 Percent structured literacy curriculums, is designed to align our literacy instruction with the most current, evidence-based, explicit instruction practices. By focusing on the core principles of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, we are setting our students up for success from the very beginning! This approach is particularly exciting because it not only strengthens our students’ reading abilities but also ensures that none of our students will be left behind in their literacy development–especially when students come into kindergarten with different levels of reading exposure. I am enthusiastic about the opportunities this initiative brings for our teachers too and the professional development our K-3 teachers and K-5 Intervention and Reading Specialists have already received over the past two years with intensive instruction in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). It is empowering our teachers with the knowledge and tools they need to deliver high-quality, research-based, explicit, and systematic reading instruction to ALL students every day.

In addition to enhancing our literacy program, the implementation of the Career STEM Connections (CSC) class for all K-5 students is a forward-thinking initiative that will introduce our students to the world of STEM from an early age. By incorporating hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences, we can ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in our students. This program is particularly exciting because it goes beyond traditional classroom learning, offering students real-world applications of STEM concepts and helping them develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

Overall, I am thrilled to lead these two initiatives and believe they will provide our students with a solid foundation in both literacy and STEM, preparing them for future academic success and equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Mrs. Melanie Anders serving as the principal of Urbana Elementary, and we deeply appreciate her leadership. For the complete article featuring questions and responses from Mr. Scott Blackburn, please visit the Urbana City Schools website.

Look for next week’s feature on Scott Blackburn, principal of Urbana Junior High. As we celebrate National and Ohio Principals Month, we encourage everyone to take a moment in October to show appreciation for your school’s principal’s hard work and dedication.

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Interview by Dr. Julie Willoughby, with responses from Mrs. Melanie Anders. Introduction and conclusion written by Dr. Julie Willoughby.

Information from Urbana City Schools