Melissa Pender
Her Journey From Teacher to the New Principal of Coosa Elementary
story by LINDSEY LENOIR photos by SUSAN DELOACH
Coosa Elementary School is located on the north end of Ladys Island just over the Woods Memorial Bridge. Coosa is comprised of approximately 500 students from pre-k to fifth grade. CES participates in Beaufort County School District’s School Choice program in which each school offers its own unique educational experience for the students of Beaufort County. CES is also Beaufort County’s flagship “Leader in Me” school. The “Leader in Me” program utilizes an education model created using Dr. Stephen R. Covey’s, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” According to the website, the program offers an “educational model that helps schools across the globe focus on internal processes and thinking, resulting in better school leadership, culture, and academic performance. ‘Leader in Me’ is an evidence-based, comprehensive, school improvement model developed in partnership with educators, that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.”
The responsibility of upholding a “leadership” school of this magnitude is no easy task. It takes a team of faculty and staff that is dedicated and driven to see their students succeed in all areas, not just academically. Behind every successful school, every happy and motivated faculty and staff, is a connected and dedicated administration. Having assumed her duties on July 1st, Melissa Pender, former assistant principal at Coosa Elementary, was approved by the Beaufort County Board of Education to become that leader as the school’s new principal.
“Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they come to see it in themselves.”
-the late Dr. Stephen R. Covey
Habit 1: “Be Proactive”
Melissa Pender started college as an accounting major. She took a part-time job to help with her tuition at a local daycare. It was during her time there that she recognized her passion for teaching children and therefore decided to change her major and seek a degree in education. She would go on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina, a Master’s Degree in Integration of Technology in Education from Lesley University, and eventually a Master’s Degree in Elementary Administration from the University of South Carolina. Melissa recalls, “I remember the exact moment the thought of becoming an administrator crossed my mind. I had just finished presenting at a writing conference early in my career with several faculty members, along with Cindy Keener, the first principal at Coosa Elementary School. While on the trip, Mrs. Keener expressed that she thought I would be a great administrator.”
Mrs. Pender would dedicate 20 years to the Beaufort County School system teaching various grade levels before stepping into an administrative capacity as Coosa’s assistant principal. She would reside as assistant principal for 2 years before being appointed in June of this year to become the school’s next principal. “That tiny seed of becoming an administrator was planted that day by Mrs. Keener. I spent the next 15+ years preparing for this day.”
Habit 2: “Begin with the End in Mind”
Having opened its doors to the children of Beaufort County in 1998, Coosa adopted Dr. Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” making it a “Leader in Me” School.
In 1999 Muriel Summers, a Principal from Raleigh, NC, utilized her knowledge of Covey’s “Habits” and started the first “Habits-based” model for a leadership school. “Leader in Me” was originally developed by Summer and some of the faculty at A.B. Combs Elementary School. They “wanted to teach their students necessary life skills right alongside academic instruction-such as leadership, responsibility, accountability, problem solving, adaptability, effective communication, and more.” Dr. Covey was an American educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker who presented principles or “Habits” that could progress from “dependence via independence to interdependence.” According to Covey, “Highly effective people share 7 Habits. Habit 1 says, ‘You’re the programmer.’ Habit 2 says ‘Write the program; live the program. Habits 3-6 say ‘Run the program; live the program.’ Habit 7 is the paradigm of continuous improvement of the whole person; it stands for education, learning, and recommitment.”
Melissa Pender’s journey began when she moved to Beaufort with her family when she was in the 3rd grade. Her stepfather was stationed at the Air Station and she attended Laurel Bay Schools, Robert Smalls, and graduated from Battery Creek High School in 1992. After college, Melissa went to work for Beaufort County schools and married her husband of 19 years. She has worked in the Beaufort County School District for over 20 years, at three different elementary schools. While in a teaching capacity Melissa says she focused her efforts on, “Being a teacher and working closely to build relationships with students, families, and my colleagues.” More recently, “Being an assistant principal involved building these same relationships, just on a larger scale, along with more responsibilities. Moving into the role of principal was the next natural step for me. I am looking forward to broadening these relationships and assisting with moving our students forward academically, socially, and emotionally.”
Habit 3: “Put First Things First”
“Let me start by saying, I love Coosa Elementary! I love the faculty, staff, students, parents and community members! At Coosa, we focus on the ‘whole’ child; academics, social and emotional needs.” Melissa Pender wants to see everyone under her watch succeed and go on to reach their fullest potential.
Habit 4: “Think Win/Win”
When asked to discuss her hopes for bridging the gap between administrators and faculty/staff, Melissa proudly asserts that the word “gap” doesn’t belong in the same sentence with administration and teachers at Coosa Elementary School, “Many of the faculty and staff have worked together for years, and we are welcoming to all new faculty and staff members. We consider and refer to ourselves as a family, a family that I have been fortunate to be a part of for the majority of my educational career. I’m confident that the faculty and staff at CES feel the same way as I do!”
Habit 5: “Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood”
Coosa Elementary serves a diverse population. Of the student population, approximately 30% come from military families. There is a certain responsibility for schools in large military communities, in general, to bridge learning gaps, be sensitive to the challenges of the military life and its effects on children, and provide a new inviting atmosphere for the child that is constantly moving and adjusting to new school situations every few years. Melissa assures, “Coosa provides that support through the Multi-Tiered System and Supports, as well as providing a challenging curriculum for those students who are involved with the gifted and talented program.”
Habit 6: “Synergize”
“Synergy is what happens when one plus one equals ten or a hundred or even a thousand! It’s the profound result when two or more respectful human beings determine to go beyond their preconceived ideas to meet a great challenge.” Stephen R. Covey
Covey’s 6th habit is to “Synergize,” meaning creatively cooperate. Through open-minded teamwork and cooperation, students are challenged to find new solutions to old problems. This is the exact mindset of the Coosa “community” that has contributed to the success of the school. Melissa remarks, “The success of Coosa Elementary is demonstrated through the involvement, collaboration, and participation of our students, staff, parents, and community members. By building strong relationships with all stakeholders, our students see the value in education and strive to do their best.
Our faculty and staff spend time building relationships with the students so they feel secure, safe and willing to be risk takers in the classroom.” In order to “Synergize”, Melissa’s advice is to encourage students’ parents to, “Remain involved. I hope to always maintain an open line of communication with our parents.”
Habit 7: “Sharpen the Saw”
“By allowing our students to showcase their individual talents and strengths, I hope that they remain excited learners and leaders that will continue to strive for success in all their future endeavors…”
– Melissa Pender, Principal Coosa Elementary School
