Parkside Elementary School

Melissa Hugh-Girdhari --- Melissa is a passionate educator who believes in fostering the whole child's development.  She has seventeen years of experience in public education spent in California, Georgia, and South Carolina, as well as six years of being a mom to her daughters Hartison and Solara.   After nine years of teaching, Melissa became a Literacy Instructional Coordinator where she coached and trained teachers.  It was from this experience that Melissa was able to support learning beyond her single classroom.  Continuing to develop her skills, Melissa became a Compliance Facilitator and trained principals to implement Response to Intervention (RTI) within their schools.  For the past three years, Melissa has been an RTI/SST Specialist where she implemented systems of support for all students.  

Throughout her career, Ms. Harris has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a passion for professional development. As a district demonstration teacher, she provided real-time training to classroom teachers, elevating instructional practices across the district. In her role as an instructional coach, Ms. Harris mentored educators, fostering a collaborative culture of growth. As an assistant principal, she prioritizes building strong connections with families, ensuring that each scholar's unique needs are recognized and supported. With a personal understanding of the challenges and joys of parenting and education, Ms. Harris brings empathy and relatability to her role. Her unwavering commitment, strengths in leadership, and ability to connect with scholars and families make Ms. Harris an exceptional educational leader, dedicated to making a lasting impact on the lives of scholars and the entire school community.