Melissa Brubaker, Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership – Elementary Schools Group 2

Ms. Brubaker began her career serving in group therapy and in-patient settings before she transitioned to school counseling. She served as a counselor, Director of Guidance, and Assistant Principal at a high school and Assistant Principal at a middle school before becoming Principal of Alice Coachman Elementary School in Albany, Georgia in 2016.

A 100%-poverty Title I school, under Ms. Brubaker’s leadership, Alice Coachman Elementary led the district in growth with a 10.2-point increase on the 2018-19 Georgia state accountability testing. Over four years, the school also reduced major discipline incidents by 50%. Ms. Brubaker built strong parental support and community partnerships with corporate and local businesses, higher ed, nonprofits, churches, and local law enforcement as well as productive working partnerships with multiple state agencies.

Most recently, Ms. Brubaker is served as Principal of North Charleston Elementary School. During her tenure, North Charleston Elementary progressed from CSI status to its most recent overall report card rating of “Good” with three consecutive years of “Excellent” student growth. Ms. Brubaker partnered with the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business to drive transformational leadership, focusing on instructional improvement, talent development, turnaround leadership, and school cultural shifts. Under her leadership, the school attained a teacher retention rate over 90% following a focus on enhancing school culture and climate. She established and strengthened community partnerships with religious organizations, City of North Charleston, Liberty Hill STEM initiative in support of Project Lead the Way, STEM Club, Drone Club, and Robotics, and collaborated with Boeing, Tuskegee Airmen, The Charity Foundation, and Coastal Coalition for Kids. Ms. Brubaker was honored as a Star Principal 2022-23, and North Charleston Elementary was recognized as a Project Lead the Way Distinguished School in both 2023 and 2024.

Ms. Brubaker holds her Bachelors of Science in recreational Therapy from Western Carolina University, a Master’s in Education in School Counseling, and an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from University of West Georgia and Walden University.

864-355-8855
mbrubaker@greenville.k12.sc.us