Melisa Simpson-Lord

Private Catholic School, 1356 students, co-educational, www.depaulprep.org.

• Established and led the First Year Scholar Institute, providing critical support and guidance to incoming students during their transition to academic life

• Collaborated with senior administration to develop and implement a cohesive student-centered learning vision that transformed educational approach school-wide

• Built robust community partnerships through strategic communication initiatives and programming that strengthened school-community relationships

• Successfully manage a team of three Assistant Deans and Attendance Office staff, ensuring seamless daily operations and student support services

• Designed and implemented innovative restorative disciplinary procedures that significantly enhanced school culture and reduced punitive measures

• Created and launched a comprehensive cell phone policy that promoted equitable technology use and improved classroom engagement

• Developed a results-driven attendance policy that fostered greater student accountability and improved attendance rates

• Partnered with faculty to identify and address classroom challenges, implementing diversified instructional strategies that better serve students across skill levels and backgrounds.

• Led professional development initiatives that enhanced teaching effectiveness and student outcomes throughout the school community.

• Conducted rigorous staff evaluations using the Danielson Framework, contributing to improved teaching quality and professional growth.

• Served as key member of the Diversity, Equity and Belonging team, driving initiatives that ensure equitable outcomes for all students across the school community.

• Co-moderated the Black Student Union, fostering inclusive environments and supporting underrepresented student voices.

• Facilitated the Dean's Student Advisory Committee, creating direct channels for student input in administrative decision-making.

• Contributed strategic expertise as senior member of the Advisory Planning Committee and school hiring committee, influencing key institutional decisions.

Faculty Excellence & Inclusive Instruction

Chicago Public Schools, www.cps.edu.

• Delivered personalized instructional support to teachers across multiple school sites, enhancing teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes through targeted coaching interventions.

• Guided successful curriculum alignment initiatives that ensured consistent, standards-based instruction across all supported classrooms and schools.

• Transformed inclusive teaching practices by coaching teachers in UbD Framework implementation, resulting in tailored instruction that effectively serves diverse learners and English Language Learners.

• Delivered personalized instructional support to teachers across multiple school sites, enhancing teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes through targeted coaching interventions.

• Guided successful curriculum alignment initiatives that ensured consistent, standards-based instruction across all supported classrooms and schools.

• Identified and addressed critical growth opportunities through strategic professional development planning, elevating teacher performance and classroom effectiveness.

• Enhanced instructional quality through comprehensive, data-driven feedback using systematic observation frameworks that provided actionable insights for continuous improvement.

• Revolutionized classroom instruction by providing hands-on, research-based support through direct modeling, collaborative planning, and co-teaching that demonstrated differentiated instructional best practices in real-time.

Nonprofit educational organization, www.the-cei.org

• Drove measurable student achievement gains by coaching and mentoring faculty and administrators across a portfolio of Charter schools, implementing targeted strategies that improved educational outcomes.
• Elevated district leadership capacity by creating and delivering specialized professional development workshops on Civic Engagement to Nassau BOCES District Superintendents, enhancing their ability to foster student civic participation.
• Transformed teaching effectiveness by designing and executing comprehensive professional development programs focused on classroom procedures and evidence-based teaching strategies that better serve diverse learners
• Enhanced instructional quality through systematic review and improvement of lesson plans, unit plans, and assessments, resulting in strengthened teacher development and student learning alignment
• Successfully delivered impactful workshops on Cultural Competence and Responsive Classrooms, equipping educators with tools to create inclusive learning environments for all students.
• Led rapid digital transformation by collaborating with teaching staff to develop engaging remote learning materials, content, and interactive tools that maintained high levels of student engagement during challenging transitions
• Modernized Social Studies curriculum by researching and integrating current educational trends and data-driven insights into NYC curriculum frameworks, ensuring relevant and engaging content for students

Private schools, 200 students, coeducation, www.fusionacademy.com.

• Achieved exceptional network leadership by outpacing peer schools within the Fusion network across all key performance indicators, establishing benchmark performance standards.
• Delivered extraordinary financial results by exceeding revenue targets by 170%, demonstrating strong business acumen and operational excellence.
• Earned consecutive top honors as the highest grossing school for both 2017 and 2018 school years, reflecting sustained operational and financial success.
• Achieved highest parent satisfaction ratings network-wide for 2017 and 2018, demonstrating exceptional customer service and educational quality.
• Transformed workplace culture by increasing employee satisfaction by 55%, creating a high-performing, engaged educational team.
• Built thriving school community that consistently delivered positive student experiences, strong academic results, and enhanced collaborative culture.
• Successfully navigated accreditation process to completion, ensuring compliance with educational standards and maintaining institutional credibility.

• Drove significant enrollment growth and reduced student attrition through strategic partnerships with feeder schools in western suburbs, expanding market reach and student pipeline.
• Executed high-impact outreach campaigns that generated measurable enrollment increases through coordinated strategic events and community engagement.
• Established robust community partnerships with parents, local businesses, and educational organizations that expanded school resources, increased community support, and enhanced brand awareness.
• Implemented comprehensive teacher evaluation system that improved instructional quality and professional development outcomes across the school.
• Optimized stakeholder communications by facilitating effective dialogue between internal teams and external partners, ensuring alignment and support for school initiatives.
• Enhanced market positioning through close collaboration with marketing teams on product positioning and messaging strategies targeting the education sector.

Public School, 250 students, coeducational, www.mtvernoncsd.org.

• Delivered remarkable student performance gains by increasing Global History Regents state exam scores by 20% and United States History Regents scores by 27%, demonstrating measurable impact on student learning outcomes.
• Leveraged data-driven strategies to design and implement targeted action plans that consistently improved student achievement across multiple academic areas.
• Collaborated with JP Morgan Chase Foundation to successfully revise and enhance Social Studies Economics curriculum, bringing real-world financial literacy expertise to student learning.
• Developed innovative Ancient China curriculum in partnership with the Pritchett Doggett Foundation, creating engaging, culturally rich educational content that enhanced global perspectives.
• Cultivated high-performing collaborative culture that strategically leveraged teacher strengths and amplified student voice, creating an environment where all stakeholders thrived.
• Transformed school climate by implementing intentional professional development initiatives that elevated staff morale, strengthened community bonds, and shifted the entire school culture toward positivity and excellence.
• Enhanced literacy outcomes school-wide by mentoring new teachers, modeling research-based best practices, and developing cross-curricular instructional strategies that improved reading and writing skills across all content areas.
• Revolutionized learning experiences through strategic technology integration that strengthened student literacy skills while promoting dynamic, interactive classroom engagement.
• Elevated teaching quality through systematic classroom observations, collaborative development of S.M.A.R.T. goals, and comprehensive review of instructional materials that ensured alignment with best practices and student needs.

• Established groundbreaking educational initiative as the inaugural Site Director for the Liberty Partnerships Great Potential Program in Mount Vernon City School District, creating a foundation for at-risk student success.
• Transformed student outcomes through strategic recruitment by implementing targeted outreach initiatives specifically designed to identify and support students performing below grade level, ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities.
• Achieved exceptional program growth by increasing student enrollment by 50%, demonstrating strong program appeal and community trust.
• Delivered remarkable academic success by increasing graduation rates by 25%, directly impacting students' life trajectories and future opportunities
• Elevated student achievement significantly with a 30% improvement in State Assessment performance, proving the effectiveness of targeted intervention strategies.
• Built robust community partnerships that successfully bridged home-school connections, creating a comprehensive support network that enhanced student success and family engagement.
• Expanded student horizons by developing and implementing college and career readiness programs and internship opportunities that prepared students for post-secondary success and workforce readiness.

Public school, 1750 students, coeducation www.mtvernoncsd.org

• Delivered exceptional AP World History results by increasing student exam scores by 25%, demonstrating superior instructional effectiveness and student preparation in advanced coursework.
• Selected for elite international scholarship by the China Institute of New York and Columbia University for the exclusive Teacher Study Abroad Program to China (July 2004), recognizing outstanding educational expertise and commitment to global learning.
• Chosen for specialized professional development by City College of New York for the Irish Potato Famine Teacher Study Tour in Ireland (April 2005), highlighting expertise in historical education and cross-cultural learning.

• Pioneered transformative student experience by organizing and implementing a comprehensive Student Study Tour to South Africa (April 2004), providing students with immersive cultural and historical learning opportunities that enhanced global perspectives.
• Enhanced curriculum with authentic global content by revising the African History curriculum, incorporating first-hand cultural knowledge and contemporary perspectives to enrich student understanding of African civilizations and their global impact.

• Successfully managed comprehensive after-school program serving 60 students while leading a diverse team of 15 employees, ensuring high-quality educational support and seamless daily operations
• Orchestrated effective program delivery by directing all operational aspects of the after-school initiative and strategically supervising support staff and academic tutors to maximize student engagement and learning outcomes

Bronx, New York Public school

1200 students, co-educational