Dr. Mel is a Powerhouse Principal…

I am on a mission to help the educator you are today to be steps closer to becoming the educational leader you want to be in the next 1 - 3 years, in much less time.

Dr. Melanie Pitchford (affectionately known as Dr. Mel) is the creator and founder of Principal Blueprint Academy, LLC.

Born and raised in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Dr. Mel is a proud product of NYC public and private schools.

Dr. Mel’s professional overview is: 

  • Certified School Turnaround Leader (Harvard University) 

  • 21+ years experience in education

  • Teacher in Johnston County, NC

  • Assistant Principal in Chatham County, NC  

  • Manager of Teacher Leadership Development at Teach for America

  • 11 years as High School Principal in the Bronx - Title 1 School - NYC Department of Education (largest school district in the USA) 

  • Bachelors Degree in Accounting (North Carolina Central University)

  • Masters Degree in K-12 Education (East Carolina University)

  • Masters Degree in School Building Leadership (East Carolina University)

  • Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Russell Sage Colleges)

  • Certified Social Emotional Learning Specialist (Yale University) 

  • Licensed School Building Leader (Principal Certification) in multiple states

  • Licensed School District Leader (Superintendent Certification) in multiple states

Most importantly, none of the academic accolades matter without possessing a true heart and passion for this work. When Dr. Mel sees children, she sees herself, her own children, future great educators, leaders, etc. and works diligently to ensure that they have the very best education possible, which is often a byproduct of having effective school leadership in place. 

Far too often, the neighborhood in which a student lives is a determining factor for whether or not he/she receives quality educational experiences. She has a passion and personal dedication to serving youth in a way to facilitate high quality education, regardless of the students' home zip code. 

Principal Blueprint Academy helps new school principals to reduce their learning curve, transform their school, and excel in their role without burnout. Principal Blueprint Academy also serves as thought-partners with various school districts to provide professional development, executive coaching, motivational speaking, etc.

Our North Star is grounded in cultivating a community of effective, passionate school leaders by providing real-world, practical suggestions, best practices, and ideas that are not typically addressed in a college setting. When implemented by educators, Dr. Mel’s hope is that the use of her services will simultaneously increase student achievement across the world, thereby creating a positive ripple effect impacting students' educational trajectory.

Working for educational equity; one student at a time. 

Today, when Dr. Mel is not training educators, she spends her free time with her sons (Amari and Dylan) and daughter (Zuri). As a life-long learner, she intentionally makes time to learn new techniques at professional development sessions all around the world.