Melissa Shindel

Activist, Brainstormer, Care taker, Change agent, Concerned citizen, Connector, Designer, Educator/Teacher, Event planner, Idea generator, Investor, Parent, Performer, Producer, Promoter, Public servant

Melissa Shindel has been a fierce advocate for kids for over 20 years. She was a teacher at the middle school and university levels, project manager and school director for a non-profit educational organization, instructional facilitator for a large school system, and assistant principal in two different large school systems near Washington DC and Baltimore. For the past eight years Melissa has been a middle school principal in Howard County, Maryland. Melissa earned her BA in secondary education and her MA in K-12 education leadership and higher education administration, both from the University of Maryland. In 1996, Melissa was awarded the Sallie Mae First Class Teacher of the Year award, and in 2009, was the NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year. She served as President of the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals from 2013-14, and currently serves as a member of the MASSP Board. Melissa has been published in Education Leadership (NASSP), has advocated for kids and schools on Capitol Hill, and continues to do so at the local and state levels. Melissa is a strong proponent of elevating student voice. She ardently believes that the collaborative partnership between school administrators, teachers, support staff, students, parents and the community is critical to the academic and developmental success of every child and she works to foster and elevate these relationships. Melissa resides in Maryland with her husband Kevin and their children, Jake, Zach and Aaron. They enjoy traveling, entertaining, attending sporting events and all things Terps!

My family, being a mom, my culture, equity in education, making the world a better place, being a voice and an advocate for those who don't have one, highlighting the strengths in people and seeing what's right in the world.

Celebrating differences

event planning, making matzoh ball soup, digital photobooking