Dr. Melissa Saunders has been named the next superintendent of Manassas Park City Schools at today’s school board meeting.
She will start her new job on July 1st. She comes from neighboring Manassas, where she has been Executive Director for Student Achievement at Public Schools in Manassas City since 2016.
Saunders has 28 years of public education experience. She has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and curriculum and instruction director in Loudoun County, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
“I am honored to be selected as the next superintendent of Manassas Park City Schools,” said Saunders. “I look forward to proudly serving and working with the school authorities, students, staff, families and community partners at Manassas Park. I’ve seen firsthand how co-workers and the community connect and care for one another. Connections, relationships, and visibility are important to me, and as the superintendent, I will take great care to maintain and develop the relationships and traditions that fuel expectations of excellence for our school community. “
“We couldn’t be more excited, Dr. To add Saunders to the MPCS family. It illustrates everything the board and the Manassas Park community were looking for in our next superintendent. She is a perfect fit for our close-knit, diverse community and we are confident that with her at the helm, we will continue to be the small school system that does, ”said Debbie McIntyre-Yurkovich, Chair of the Manassas Park School Board.
Saunders replaces Dr. Bruce McDade, who was due to retire last year but continued to help the school department respond to the pandemic. He worked in the city school department for 20 years.
Saunders received his PhD in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) assisted the school board in finding superintendents.
Saunders is the second principal in the last few weeks. Late last month, Prince William County’s public schools selected LaTanya McDade of Chicago as their new superintendent. She replaces Dr. Steven L. Walts, who has been with the service since 2005 – one of the longest-serving and highest-paid school principals in the country.