Imagine the World with Melissa España

Join host Pablo Muñoz for an informative conversation with his featured guest — Melissa España.
Melissa has dedicated 28 years of her life to education, with 19 of those years serving as an administrator. Being a proud Latina woman, she has had the opportunity to work in various urban school districts in New Jersey. Melissa is focused on providing the best possible education to the communities and students she is privileged to serve.
1:03 - Introduction
1:55 - My Leadership Story
15:28 - Assistant Superintendent of Schools
22:51 - Educational Leadership
34:41 - Mentorship
37:17 - Latina Leaders
42:12 - Learn, Grow, and Develop as a Leader
44:00 - Guiding Principles
Melissa España was born in New York City and moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey when she was five. Her Cuban American mother and stepfather raised her, and she is also of Ecuadorian descent. Melissa attended school in Elizabeth and later went to Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Growing up, she was passionate about dancing and dreamt of performing on Broadway. However, when Melissa was in college, her mother suggested that she consider teaching, as her mother believed Melissa had a natural talent for captivating an audience. Taking her mother’s advice, Melissa began teaching and had the opportunity to work with bilingual children in a second grade classroom at the Elizabeth Public Schools. She later pursued a master's degree in bilingual education and obtained administrative certifications. Throughout her teaching career, Melissa continued to pursue her love for dance, particularly salsa and Latin dance, and immersed herself in the vibrant Hispanic music culture for over 20 years. Melissa has two wonderful sons, Steven and Evan. Evan is a junior in high school, and Steven is in his fifth year of college, studying to be an architect. Melissa has had the privilege of working in Elizabeth, East Orange, Perth Amboy, and now in Paterson, New Jersey, where she serves as the assistant superintendent overseeing the high schools.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissa-españa-baa077260
Email: [email protected]
Latino Leaders publishes new episodes weekly on Mondays.
Latino Leaders podcast is a production of Muñoz & Company, an educational and leadership consulting organization.
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