Melissa Cole joined the AVID Center Team in 2015 as AVID State Director supporting AVID implementation in schools and districts across Oregon. She now serves as AVID Senior Region Director in the Western Region, leading and supporting regional staff while managing regional operations that include but are not limited to developing a multi-state presence and monitoring AVID program results.

Before joining AVID Center, Melissa served as Director, Middle School Education at Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Salem, Oregon, where she ensured the district-wide implementation of strategic plan initiatives at the middle school level. As an instructional leader, she established a collaborative middle school administrative leadership team who worked together to raise student achievement for every student. Through embedded coaching and a comprehensive supervision cycle focused on the instructional core, she provided the support and feedback to engage administrators in schoolwide improvement.

A first-generation college graduate, Melissa earned her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Montana and her MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon. Melissa is driven by a firm belief that education breaks barriers and changes the trajectory of families for generations.

Melissa Cole

VICE PRESIDENT, WESTERN REGION