Melanie Kay-Wyatt Named Permanent Alexandria Schools Superintendent

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Interim Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt will continue her work in the permanent superintendent role.

The Alexandria School Board announced the appointment of Kay-Wyatt Thursday night. The selection comes after a national search with 35 applicants. Kay-Wyatt was chosen from five finalists.

"The School Board is excited to announce Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt as our next permanent superintendent for ACPS," said School Board Chair Meagan Alderton in a statement. "She is an experienced, forward-thinking leader, and is exactly what we need for our school division’s success. She brings to this role a focus on academic excellence and social-emotional well-being for our students, and will continue to emphasize and ensure that we have safe schools."

Kay-Wyatt has a four-year contract through June 30, 2027 with an annual salary of $265,000.

Kay-Wyatt had been appointed interim superintendent in August 2022 after former Superintendent Gregory Hutchings Jr. announced he would step down. Kay-Wyatt was the former acting chief of human resources and executive director of human resources at ACPS.

Before joining the school district in July 2021, she worked in human resources at Spotsylvania County Public Schools, principal and assistant principal at Fredericksburg City Public Schools, and special education teacher at Culpeper County Schools and Fredericksburg City Public Schools. At Fredericksburg's James Monroe High School, she won teacher of the year.

She has also been an executive coach and educational consultant and faculty member at the College of William and Mary and Shenandoah University as well as a leader with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Kay-Wyatt has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mary Washington College, a master’s degree in education from Old Dominion University, a master of education degree in educational leadership from University of Mary Washington and a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.

"Dr. Kay-Wyatt’s experience as a teacher, school administrator, human resources expert and division-wide leader is crucial to her vision for creating a more supportive, positive climate and community that extends from Central Office all the way through our schools," said Alderton. "The Board also wants to express our gratitude to Dr. Kay-Wyatt for stepping up when she was needed last summer and adapting quickly to serving ACPS as interim superintendent during this school year."

The School Board conducted a national search for a superintendent using search firm McPherson & Jacobson. Public feedback was collected in December and January through a survey and stakeholder group discussions.

Kay-Wyatt thanked the School Board for the appointment and collaboration during the current school year.

"I look forward to continuing our school division’s work on behalf of ACPS students and our school community," said Kay-Wyatt in a statement. "Everything we do is for our students, and this is an exciting opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment and support for all of our students in their social-emotional and academic success."