Sometimes things just add up. For Mrs. Melissa Poole, a strong love of math and a desire to help students improve in that area has landed her a new role in Pulaski County Public Schools as the K-12 Math Instructional Coach.
“I am very excited to continue my career in Pulaski County as the K-12 Math Instructional Coach,” Mrs. Poole said. “Researching new and innovative strategies for solving mathematical problems is something I am passionate about and I look forward to working with all math teachers across the county.”
Poole is a 1995 graduate of Charlton County High School in Folkston, Georgia. After graduation, she went on to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Radford University in 2010. She later earned her Master's Degree in Administration & Supervision from Liberty University in 2023.
“Prior to finishing my teaching degree, I worked in various positions such as administrative assistant, customer service representative, and human resources while my husband served in the United States Air Force,” she said. “After moving to Virginia in 2006, I decided it was time to return to college so that I could finally do what I always knew I was meant to do … become an educator!”
She began her teaching career at Riverlawn Elementary School.
“In 2010, I began my career in education as a third-grade teacher at Riverlawn Elementary,” Poole said. “For six of my seven years in the classroom, I was responsible for math instruction for all third-grade students. After seven years, I made the transition to an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher. In addition to continuing working at Riverlawn, I was also able to assist Dublin Elementary, Dublin Middle School, and Snowville Elementary as an ITRT. In February of this year, I was appointed as the Interim Assistant Principal at Riverlawn Elementary. When the Math Instructional Coach position was posted, I was immediately drawn to the idea of going back to my love of Math and Instructional strategies.”
Mrs. Poole and her husband, Steven, have been married for almost 29 years. They have two children, Kaitlyn and her husband Trey are travel nurses currently working in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Ashlyn who is their guardian angel. Melissa and her husband enjoy traveling to new places and spending time with their Australian Shepherd, D-O-G ("d-oh-gee").
Mrs. Poole is set to assume her new role July 1, 2024.