Greetings Pershing Families,
It is my pleasure and honor to introduce myself as the new principal of Pershing Middle School. I am extremely excited about the upcoming school year and I am looking forward to getting to know the students, staff, and families.
I am a native San Diegan and live in Chula Vista with my husband and two children. I have been an educator for over twenty years and began my career as a special education teacher in the South Bay. Later, I became a general education teacher and for the majority of my teaching career I taught Advanced Placement U.S. History at Otay Ranch High School before ultimately shifting to an Intervention Specialist resource position at that school and then moving into administration. For the past two years I have been the middle school principal at the Logan Memorial Educational Campus in San Diego Unified.
As Pershing’s principal I am dedicated to continuing the strong tradition of academic excellence that our school is known for. I will strive to build positive relationships with staff, students, and the community. I will also encourage rigorous learning and work to maintain a strong school culture where students feel safe to be their authentic selves and where they feel seen, heard, and known by caring adults on this campus
Finally, we know that a strong home to school connection is a key factor in students’ success and I look forward to building a strong partnership with our families and maintaining open lines of communication. I am excited to bring my experience, my passion for learning, and my student-centered focus to Pershing Middle School and I look forward to beginning my journey as part of the Panther Community!
Sincerely,
Melanie Kray