Staff Developer
MBrowning@schools.nyc.gov
Melissa Browning grew up in Brooklyn Heights and attended PS 8 from kindergarten to seventh grade. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Bard College (where she also studied printmaking and Italian and was a competitive figure skater!) and a master’s degree in Childhood Education from Hunter College. She began teaching third grade at PS 8 in 2005. After almost a decade in the classroom, Melissa became the Staff Developer for grades 3-5. In this role, she works to improve teacher instruction and support students who need extra help.
In her spare time, Melissa loves to cook and travel. She has made trips to Italy, England, Scotland, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska – where she spent a month hiking, kayaking, visiting glaciers, and viewing wildlife.
In case you’re wondering…
Staff developers meet with teachers and work with them to revise specific units. Staff developers can “launch” a new unit in partnership with teachers across a grade, helping ensure consistency and facilitate teacher-to-teacher learning. There are also specific mentoring relationships, as well the work of synthesizing and effectively disseminating guidance from places like Teachers College.