Long-time educator, AVID leader named next KCSD superintendent

May 7, 2026 / The Klamath County School District Board of Directors has selected long-time educator Melissa Cole as its next superintendent, bringing to the district a relationship-centered leader with more than 25 years of experience and a strong record of improving student outcomes at district, state, and national levels.

Cole was chosen from a strong field of candidates following a comprehensive, multi-phase search process, said Brooke Kliewer chair of the KCSD Board of Directors. The board unanimously approved Cole’s contract during a special meeting on May 7.

“Throughout the interview process, she stood out for her collaborative leadership style, her ability to listen thoughtfully, her clear communication, and her unwavering focus on what is best for students,” Kliewer said. “We are confident that under her leadership, our district will continue to grow and thrive, with student achievement at the center of every decision.”

Here is a link to hear what board members said about Melissa Cole at the May 7 meeting

Cole, who lives in Klamath Falls, currently serves as vice president of national programs for AVID Center, a nonprofit that supports schools with instructional strategies and professional learning to help students develop skills for success after high school. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. She previously served as the Oregon state director for AVID Center.

In her current role, she leads national strategy and works with school districts in 13 states, as well as British Columbia and Australia. She partners with district leaders to improve how schools teach and support students by leading leadership retreats and workshops and facilitating districtwide AVID strategic planning. She also oversees large-scale budgets and ensures resources are used to best support student success.

Cole co-facilitated an Oregon Supervisors of Principals Academy and supports executive directors who lead teams engaged in school and district coaching.

“I am truly honored to serve Klamath County schools,” Cole said. “I’m excited to build on the strong foundation already in place and work alongside our community to strengthen outcomes, expand opportunities, and ensure every student is prepared for success after graduation.”

Her district-level experience includes eight years as director of middle school education in Salem-Keizer Public Schools, where she oversaw 11 middle schools serving about 10,000 students. She worked closely with principals, teachers, and families to support student learning and improve schools, ensuring students received a consistent, high-quality education across the district.

She also led a districtwide effort to improve literacy for K-12 students, focusing on reading and writing skills across all subjects, and supporting teachers with training, collaboration, and coaching. At the secondary level, the work centered on content-area literacy, which included practical strategies for math, science, social studies, and electives to help students access grade-level work.

“In every role I’ve had, literacy has been at the center of student learning,” Cole said. “When students can read well, write clearly, think critically, and communicate across subjects, it changes everything for them. It gives them more confidence in school, and it opens more doors for what comes next after high school.”

These efforts contributed to measurable gains -- middle school math performance moved from well below state averages to 15% above state averages, and reading improved to state averages.

Cole also worked as a principal and assistant principal in Salem-Keizer, including opening Claggett Creek Middle School. As principal, she led the school to significant academic improvements and earned turnaround recognition during the No Child Left Behind era. Though the school served a high number of students living in poverty or learning English as an additional language, students outperformed peers across the district.

“Our motto was simple: We believe,” Cole said. “We believed in every student, we believed we had a responsibility to ensure each student had the support and opportunities needed to succeed, and we believed we were the right staff to make it happen. That shared belief became our rallying point, and it led to meaningful gains for students and staff.”

The KCSD Board of Directors began its search for a superintendent in January after current Superintendent Glen Szymoniak announced plans to retire June 30. The board hired Human Capital Enterprises to help with the process. The search included criteria outlining the background, skills, and characteristics sought in the district’s next leader, followed by a national recruitment effort and multiple rounds of screening, interviews, and reference checks.

Though candidate names were not shared publicly, the Board emphasized community engagement by providing staff, students, parents, and community members opportunities for input through surveys, focus groups, and confidential interview panels. Cole will take the reins on July 1. 

“We are incredibly proud to welcome a superintendent who brings more than 25 years of experience in education, along with a genuine connection to our community,” Kliewer said. “As someone who already calls this area home, she understands our schools and the people they serve. Having started her career in the classroom and advanced to a national leadership role with AVID, she offers a well-rounded perspective and a strong, proven commitment to student success.”

Cole was born and raised in Santa Maria, Calif., an agricultural community known for crops such as strawberries, broccoli, and cauliflower. She is one of five siblings and grew up surrounded by family as well as a close family friend she called an adopted aunt, who lived on a ranch that became a formative place in her childhood.

She describes these experiences as foundational in instilling an appreciation of hard work, resilience, and the values that come from life outdoors.

Cole was influenced early on by a teacher who encouraged a college-preparatory path, even when college didn’t feel like a realistic option. That experience ultimately shaped her commitment to helping students understand their opportunities early and turn them into clear plans for the future.

She started her higher education journey at California State University Chico. However, her love of the outdoors -- including camping, fishing, and hunting -- eventually led her to the University of Montana. During that time, she also worked for the U.S. Forest Service on the Lolo National Forest, where she served on wildfire suppression crews during the summers and performed forest restoration work during the off-season.

After graduating college mid-year, Cole worked as a substitute teacher in Missoula and Bonner. She then accepted a position in Oregon and began her career teaching social studies and English language arts at Sweet Home Junior High School, and English language arts at Central Linn Jr/Sr High School in Halsey, Ore. At Central Linn, she also served as the junior high activities director and district testing coordinator.

Cole holds a master of arts in educational leadership from the University of Oregon and a bachelor of arts in elementary education from the University of Montana, and is licensed as a professional administrator in the state of Oregon.

Her connection to the area is both professional and personal. She and her husband, Greg, a retired elementary and middle school principal, moved from La Pine to Klamath Falls three years ago after spending time in the area visiting their daughter, son-in-law, and four grandchildren -- ages 9, 6, 5, and 1.

The Klamath Basin quickly felt like home, she said, particularly because of its strong sense of community, outdoor lifestyle, and rural character.

“I’ve always believed that our work in schools has to connect directly to students’ lives beyond graduation,” Cole said. “Whether that’s college, career, or technical pathways, students need strong instruction, strong relationships, and clear support systems so they can see real possibilities for their future.

“My hope is that every student feels like school is a place where they belong and where adults believe in them. When that happens, students start to see more in themselves -- and that’s where real learning and opportunity begin.”