The Alexandria City School Board has appointed Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt as the interim superintendent for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), effective Sept. 1, 2022, at a special called School Board meeting. Kay-Wyatt is currently the ACPS chief of human resources, having joined the school division in July 2021 and served previously as the ACPS acting chief of human resources and the executive director of human resources. She is the second Black female interim superintendent at ACPS.
As interim superintendent, Kay-Wyatt will lead the school division following current Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. who will be with ACPS through Aug. 31, 2022. Kay-Wyatt’s contract as interim superintendent begins Sept. 1, 2022, and extends through June 30, 2023 or until a permanent superintendent is hired. This will allow for transition time in August and help ensure a smooth start to the new school year on Aug. 22, 2022.
“We are so pleased to appoint Dr. Kay-Wyatt as interim superintendent for Alexandria City Public Schools. The leadership, breadth and depth of experience and skills that she brings to this role are pivotal to continue advancing the goals of our 2025 Equity for All Strategic Plan,” said Alexandria City Board Chair Meagan L. Alderton. “Dr. Kay-Wyatt is a proven instructional leader whose background and skills as a special education teacher, principal and central office leader make her the right person to lead our school division at this time. We are confident that the knowledge, trust and relationships she has built within the ACPS community will serve her well as interim superintendent and we look forward to working more closely with her.”
Prior to joining ACPS, Kay-Wyatt worked in Human Resources at Spotsylvania Public Schools, served as a principal and assistant principal at Fredericksburg City Public Schools, and was a special education teacher at both Culpepper County Schools and Fredericksburg City Public Schools. She has also served as an executive coach and educational consultant, as well as an adjunct faculty member at the College of William and Mary and Shenandoah University. Under Kay-Wyatt’s leadership, the ACPS Department of Human Resources has significantly increased recruitment and hiring, strengthened partnerships with universities, improved staff onboarding and elevated employee wellness and recognition. She was instrumental in designing and leading the staff vaccination and testing requirement process last fall and ensuring that all schools and offices remained open throughout this past year with innovative strategies to identify and reassign staff as needed during critical staff shortages.
“I am honored and excited to serve our school community and students as the interim superintendent for ACPS. I look forward to collaborating with our division leadership, our outstanding principals and dedicated staff in a new capacity as we work together to inspire our students, remove barriers to learning and prepare them for success in school, careers and life,” said Kay-Wyatt. Kay-Wyatt also stated that her emphasis will be to continue our work around social, emotional and academic learning, meeting the needs of the whole child and ensuring that we provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students, staff and families.
Kay-Wyatt has held various leadership positions in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), including as president and chair of the Board of Directors, and was involved in educational policy at the state and federal levels as part of the ASCD legislative committee. She holds 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. Among her awards and recognitions are the Jaycees Educator of the Year and the James Monroe High School Teacher of the Year.
The terms of Kay-Wyatt’s contract as interim superintendent include a monthly salary of $21,383. The School Board will immediately begin the search process for a permanent superintendent, which will include opportunities for input from staff, students, families and community members.
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) serves more than 15,400 students who hail from more than 110 countries and speak 121 languages. ACPS has 18 schools, including two middle schools, two K-8 schools, one pre-K school and the internationally recognized Alexandria City High School. ACPS is committed to putting racial equity at the heart of all decisions and ensuring that each and every student succeeds.
