Melanie Mikusa

108 Constitution Dr.

Morganton, NC 28655
828-443-0133
memikusa@gmail.com
Professional Profile
Committed to the growth and development of Pre-K - 12 education in the twenty-first century
using a unique combination of inquiry instruction, innovative technology, coupled with
providing faculty education and opportunity for growth.

Experienced administrator in both public and private settings

Experienced educator in traditional and nontraditional settings

Dedicated to enthusiastic and dynamic teaching as a means of creating and nurturing

a lifelong love of knowledge in children and the adult learner
Education Background and Certifications
EdD. Educational Leadership Current Expected graduation Spring 2015

Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.

M.A. Special Education with Reading add-on

Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.

Bachelor of Art

The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Certifications

National Board Certified Professional Teacher, Early Childhood Specialist, renewed

November 2011

North Carolina Teaching license, Elementary Ed., Special Ed. K-12, Reading K-12
Key Qualifications

National Board Certified Early Childhood Generalist

Five years experience as Head of School, Morganton Day School, with wide range of
responsibilities including budgeting, grant writing, student recruitment, curriculum and
design, staff development, and facilities oversight.

14 years experience in the classroom responsible for planning and instructing each
subject area using wide variety of teaching aids including technology to motivate and
engage students in active learning.

Support teachers in the implementation of technology in the classroom. Research

educational resources, web 2.0 tools, mobile devices, and the use of technology for
assessment and demonstration of student achievement

Identify staff development needs, provide support for onsite teacher trainings
Teaching and Administrative Experience

Head of School, July 2008 to present

Morganton Day School, Morganton, NC

Doctoral Internship Adjunct Faculty, August 2013 to December 2013

Lees McRae College, Banner Elk, NC
Family Resource Center Coordinator, July 2006 to 2008
Family, Infant, Preschool, Program, Morganton, NC
Teacher, December 1994-2006
Morganton Day School, Morganton, NC
Experiential Wilderness Instructor, May 1986 to December 1994
North Carolina Outward Bound School, Morganton, NC

Research and Project Experience

Qualitative Study Pilot Project at ASU, Fall 2013, Integrated Technology in K-12
classrooms

Art Really Matters (ARM) Art opportunities for Families of Young Children. Research
project was part of a parenting program and was designed to increase confidence and
competence in developmentally appropriate art skills as well as increase parents ability
to integrate interest-based art activities into the everyday lives of their children

Parenting Club: supporting Early Childhood Development through Structured Parent-toParent Interactions

Teacher as Researcher project at ASU, Spring 2008, Creating Quality Professional

Development with Synergistic Collegial Support and Instructional Coaching

School Improvement Project at ASU, Fall 2007, English Language Enrichment

Program- Opening the lines of communication. Project provided English as a Second
Language classes for parents as school age students received tutoring and younger sibling
participated in language socialization activities.
Papers and Conference Presentations

Poster presentation - 26th Annual North Carolina Teacher Education Forum, 2008 Creating Quality Professional Development with Synergistic Collegial Support and
Instructional Coaching

Poster presentation Accepted Head Starts Ninth National Research Conference,

Washington DC, 2008 Parenting Club: Supporting Early Childhood Development
through Structured Parent-to-Parent Interactions

Regional Child Care Task Force Conference Playgrounds of Learning, 2007

workshop presentation Learning to Read, pre-reading skills for children birth to age 4.

Early Childhood & School-Age Conference, workshop presentation, Read with Me,
Please, The use of Flannel Board Stories with pre-emergent readers, 2007
Grants

Hogan Family Foundation $2,300 to upgrade science equipment to supplement new

S.T.E.M. curriculum, 2010 & 2011

Hogan Family Foundation - $1,800 for upgrade of Junior Kindergarten outdoor play
space, 2012 & 2013

Pepsi Refresh Everything - $50,000 to upgrade internet infrastructure within the school
building and for the purchase of 40 mobile devices and 15 MacBooks, 2011

Smart Start Family Resource Center - $100,000 for one year continuation of Resource

Center Services
Professional Affiliations

Blue Ridge Reading Council/NC Reading Association

International Reading Association

International Dyslexia Association

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

North Carolina Association of Independent Schools