Melissa Cassells serves as the Chief Operating Officer at KIPP Team and Family Schools (KIPP NJ & KIPP Miami), which operates more than 20 public charter schools in Newark and Camden, New Jersey, and Miami, Florida. Over her 18-year career with KIPP, Melissa has taken on a range of leadership roles, including teacher, principal, leadership development director, school leader manager, Managing Director of KIPP Through College, and Managing Director of Operations. In her current role, Melissa ensures operational excellence across the organization by leading key functions such as student recruitment, compliance, facilities, technology, and financial management. She is passionate about coaching and developing leaders and takes pride in fostering environments where teammates thrive.

Before joining KIPP NJ in 2012, Melissa was a teacher and school leader with KIPP Northern California Schools. In 2008, she founded KIPP San Jose Collegiate, KIPP Northern California’s second high school, and served as principal until 2012. Under her leadership, 100% of the founding class matriculated to college, and the school continues to excel, earning accolades as one of the top public high schools in California and the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.

Melissa holds a BA in Latin American and Iberian Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and indulging in a good Netflix binge.