A native Houstonian and graduate of both Columbia University and Rice University, Melanie Maspero has a passion for building schools and serving underprivileged communities
Melanie put her ideas to work at Teach for America Houston, where she served as senior managing director of community and alumni partnerships, working with school districts across Houston to train and coach first-year and alumni teachers. Most recently, she worked as head of schools, where she developed a strategic plan for school expansion.
Previously, Melanie spent two years as a school director at YES Prep Public Schools Spring Branch campus in collaboration with the SKY partnership. She helped found the 13th campus, YES Prep Hoffman, the first partnership school with Aldine ISD.
Melanie majored in English literature and African-American studies at Columbia University while participating in law-oriented internships. As college graduation neared, however, Melanie decided to defer law school and explore teaching opportunities. That fall, she headed back to Houston to teach seventh and eighth-grade English for Houston ISD. She discovered a passion for teaching and found her professional home at YES Prep Public Schools.
She holds an MBA and principal certification from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. She recently completed a master’s degree in counseling and is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Houston.
Melanie is a product of Houston ISD public schools, and has traveled internationally every year since she was 19. Outside of work, you will find her singing, writing, cooking or working her eye for interior design.