{"id":105527,"date":"2025-03-19T12:04:49","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T16:04:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/?p=105527"},"modified":"2025-03-19T12:07:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T16:07:02","slug":"umw-announces-2025-commencement-speaker-alumna-and-educator-melanie-kay-wyatt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/19\/umw-announces-2025-commencement-speaker-alumna-and-educator-melanie-kay-wyatt\/","title":{"rendered":"UMW Announces 2025 Commencement Speaker, Alumna and Educator Melanie Kay-Wyatt"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Longtime
Longtime educator and Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, will be the University of Mary Washington’s 2025 Commencement speaker.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the University of Mary Washington\u2019s 2025 Commencement speaker shares her remarks during the May 10 ceremony, the soon-to-be graduates can be certain they are the center of her attention. That\u2019s because Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt \u201992, M.Ed \u201907, superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), takes a student-centered approach and keeps education at the heart of everything she does.<\/p>\n

She is also very familiar with the commencement stage, having celebrated thousands of high school graduates through her time as a teacher, principal, human resources professional and superintendent, and having graduated from Mary Washington twice, first with a bachelor\u2019s degree in business administration and then with a Master of Education in educational leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis dual perspective has been invaluable in my journey, especially as I work to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education and that our schools operate effectively and equitably,\u201d she says. \u201cMy education at Mary Washington provided me with a strong foundation in leadership, resilience and perseverance \u2013 qualities that have been essential throughout my career. Starting my career as a special education teacher, I learned the importance of advocacy, patience and meeting students where they are on their educational journey. These skills carried over as I moved into leadership roles, including principal, director of human resources and chief of human resources. Each step reinforced my ability to navigate complex systems, foster equitable opportunities and build strong teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

She previously worked in human resources in Spotsylvania Public Schools, and as a principal, assistant principal and special education teacher at Fredericksburg City Public Schools. She also earned a master\u2019s degree in education from Old Dominion University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University, where her capstone research focused on evaluating early literacy programs.<\/p>\n

Dr. Kay-Wyatt recalls her time in the classroom and on the Mary Washington campus well. She studied with civil rights leader and Distinguished Professor of History and American Studies James Farmer Jr. and remembers inspiring guest speakers such as the late congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in her business seminars. She also credits her undergraduate degree in business administration with providing a strong foundation in strategic planning, organizational management and financial oversight \u2013 essential skills for running a successful school division, which she now does as the superintendent of ACPS. Under her leadership, ACPS has seen increased graduation rates, lower dropout rates, reduced chronic absenteeism and improved accreditation standings.<\/p>\n

\"Dr. <\/a>
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, has celebrated thousands of high school graduates throughout her career as a teacher, principal and human resources professional, and in her current role as Alexandria City Public Schools superintendent. In May she will celebrate UMW’s newest graduating class as the 2025 Commencement speaker. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Among <\/a>
Among her many accolades, Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, was selected by the National School Public Relations Association as a 2023 Superintendent to Watch, recognizing her effective use of technology to engage and inform the school community while also expanding two-way communication and outreach efforts. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

\u201cAs an educator, I quickly saw the connection between business principles and school leadership. Managing budgets, recruiting and retaining top talent and ensuring operational efficiency are just as critical to a school system as they are to any business,\u201d she said. \u201cAt the same time, my advanced degrees in education have helped me stay deeply connected to the needs of students, teachers and the community\u2026 As superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, I blend both perspectives \u2013 using my business knowledge to make informed decisions while keeping education at the heart of everything I do. With my one team, one journey mantra, we have made significant strides as a school division to bring all of these concepts together for the benefit of all students and staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

A visionary leader dedicated to excellence in education, transforming schools through innovation, student-centered initiatives and strong community engagement, she\u2019s frequently cited as approaching her workload with passion and being an advocate for innovation and flexibility. She was recently named the Region IV Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS), and her peers have highlighted her impact on staff development, community engagement and innovative programs such as the Academies at Alexandria City High School and the Middle School Career and Technical Education programs, both celebrated by the Virginia Department of Education.\u00a0The National School Public Relations Association selected Dr. Kay-Wyatt as a 2023 Superintendent to Watch, recognizing her effective use of technology to engage and inform the school community while also expanding two-way communication and outreach efforts. Dr. Kay-Wyatt was also selected in 2024, as one of her alma mater\u2019s Virginia Commonwealth University Ten Under Ten awardees.<\/p>\n

Beyond her work in K-12 education, Dr. Kay-Wyatt is a respected voice in educational policy and leadership development. She has served on numerous national and state boards, including the Board of Directors for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), where she was president and board chair. She has also been a legislative advocate at the state and national levels, shaping education policy to support lifelong learning.<\/p>\n

Dr. Kay-Wyatt\u2019s expertise in leadership, human capital management and instructional innovation has led to adjunct faculty appointments at Shenandoah University and the College of William & Mary, where she has taught courses in educational leadership and human resources in education. She has also contributed to national research panels, including the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Study of Title I Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance Programs.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/a>
A visionary leader dedicated to excellence in education, transforming schools through innovation, student-centered initiatives and strong community engagement, Dr. Melanie Kay-Watt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, is frequently cited as approaching her workload with passion and being an advocate for innovation and flexibility. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Dr. <\/a>
Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt ’92, M.Ed. ’07, who will be UMW’s 2025 Commencement speaker, also earned a master\u2019s degree in education from Old Dominion University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her capstone research focused on evaluating early literacy programs. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

She has held or currently holds memberships with several professional organizations, including the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS).<\/p>\n

Dr. Kay-Wyatt previously served as a member of the Germanna Community College Board of Directors and the Mary Washington Healthcare Board, Finance Committee. She currently serves as a member of the University of Mary Washington College of Education Advisory Board. She also was honored as the Jaycees Educator of the Year (2006) and James Monroe High School Teacher of the Year (2004).<\/p>\n

And in 2025, she will return to Mary Washington as the commencement speaker, further inspiring the next generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I love most about what I do now is the students \u2013 being in schools, building relationships and earning the trust of our students, staff and families. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing students grow, succeed and ultimately walk across that graduation stage, knowing they are prepared for their future,\u201d she said. \u201cEducation is about more than just academics; it\u2019s about creating opportunities, fostering confidence and ensuring every child knows they are supported and capable of achieving their dreams. Being a part of that journey is what makes this work so fulfilling.\u201d<\/p>\n

UMW\u2019s 2025 Commencement Ceremony will be held Saturday, May 10, beginning at 9 a.m., with a livestream available. For more information, <\/em>visit the UMW Commencement website<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When the University of Mary Washington\u2019s 2025 Commencement speaker shares her remarks during the May 10 ceremony, the soon-to-be graduates can be certain they are the center of her attention. That\u2019s because Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt \u201992, M.Ed \u201907, superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), takes a student-centered approach and keeps education at the heart […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":105536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"umw_cb_additional_links":[[]],"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_advisory_expires_time":"","_advisory_meta_include":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10422,704],"tags":[15505,15507,15506],"topics":[5144],"class_list":{"0":"post-105527","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-commencement","8":"category-top-stories","9":"tag-commencement-2025","10":"tag-commencement-speaker","11":"tag-melanie-kay-wyatt","12":"topic-news","13":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUMW Announces 2025 Commencement Speaker, Alumna and Educator Melanie Kay-Wyatt - News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2025\/03\/19\/umw-announces-2025-commencement-speaker-alumna-and-educator-melanie-kay-wyatt\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UMW Announces 2025 Commencement Speaker, Alumna and Educator Melanie Kay-Wyatt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When the University of Mary Washington\u2019s 2025 Commencement speaker shares her remarks during the May 10 ceremony, the soon-to-be graduates can be certain they are the center of her attention. 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