Dr. Melissa Stephanski is a passionate educator with over 27 years of experience in K-12 education. Throughout her career, she has served in various roles, including substitute teacher, teacher, guidance counselor, alternative school lead, school principal, and chief academic officer/assistant superintendent in one of Kentucky's largest public school districts. Her experience includes urban, sub-urban, and rural school settings. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Master's and Rank I in School Counseling, and K-12 administration, instructional supervision, and superintendency certification.

Dr. Stephanski serves as a coach and consultant for educational leadership and school success, presenting at state, national, and international conferences on topics such as leadership development, building educator capacity, professional learning communities, and fostering positive school cultures. Her research and authorship fields include support for new school administrators and elevating leadership to support effective instruction.

Dr. Stephanski’s passion lies in developing school and district leaders; enhancing leadership capacity to create environments where teaching and learning thrive. She maintains a clear focus on how every system, process, and decision directly impacts students. Dr. Stephanski’s commitment to student-centered decision-making drives her work, ensuring that every effort aligns with the ultimate goal—enhancing the success of each student.