Melissa Sherman grew up in rural Virginia playing in the woods and streams.

Taught PK–7th grade in public and independent school in VA, AL, TN for 17 years before becoming a principal

Was a title I reaching coach/interventionist for much of this time

Now am a principal of a small independent PK–5th grade School, The Fay School in Houston

We have chickens, a 3 acre forest and have kids spend lots of time outside

• Play in the woods and dig in the dirt for nature’s sake.
• Forest recess, incidents of injury are lower than regular recess
• Last child in the woods
• Give kids
• Free Forest Schools
• Obstacles to kids going outside.
• Raised bed gardens just take cinder blocks, dirt, and sunflower seeds.
• State parks have free or low-cost field trips
• Master gardener
• How Trust-based observations has helped Melissa.
• How to be a transformative principal? Go to recess and watch kids play!

Sponsors Transformative Principal Mastermind

Lead a school everyone can be proud of.

Being a principal is tough work. You’re pulled in all kinds of directions. You never have the time to do the work that really matters. Join me as I help school leaders find the time to do the work they became principals to do.

I help you stop putting out fires and start leading.

Learn more at https://transformativeprincipal.com

Just Right Reader

Just Right Reader Decodables are a great way to help your students learn how to read, with research-based strategies that are proven to be effective. Each grade level has over 100 books. Send books home in packs of ten, with video lessons accessible via QR codes on each book, with lessons in Spanish and English. Learn more at https://justrightreader.com