Shelly Melton-Lether
Executive Director
Valley Preparatory Academy Charter School
Fresno, California

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Charter School Leadership Emphasis
Class of 2010

“CMU’s Charter School Leadership Program provided the additional theoretical and practical training I needed as a charter school administrator in California. As charter school leaders, we wear many different hats. CMU offers courses that cover such topics as public school law, human resources, and community relations providing practical information that helps leaders make important decisions and avoid pitfalls.

The mission of Valley Preparatory Academy Charter School is to be a safe and healthy environment providing opportunity for all students to become lifelong learners through excellence in character development, academic skills, and physical fitness.  Valley Preparatory Academy Charter School is a public K-8 educational program with open enrollment providing a safe learning environment where students can develop academic and character excellence. Our mission is for all students to become self-motivated, lifelong learners by providing high academic and ethical standards. We believe when character development is taught alongside state aligned curriculum, students become happy, productive, healthy members of our community.”

Seven of the nation’s outstanding graduate students in educational administration were selected by the American Association of School Administrators to receive scholarships during AASA’s 2012 National Conference on Education in Houston, Texas in February.

David Grant Hornak, Elementary Principal at Holt Public Schools was selected to receive the Paul B. Salmon Award.

“I feel most honored to be among the seven selected for this scholarship from across the country.  I enjoyed expanding my network through the scholarship program as well as the conference,” commented Hornak.