Melanie Dukes, Associate Program Director, K-9 Education, manages the Foundation’s in-school portfolios, Exceptional Educators and Innovative Schools, focused on K-9 programs that increase the retention of expert educators and support student-centered learning environments, respectively. Melanie brings over 15 years of experience with leading education initiatives, building innovative programs, and using technology, data, and analytics to generate new solutions to complex problems.
Previously, Melanie worked at 2U, Inc. as a Director in the technology department to support online learning for universities. Prior to that, Melanie worked at Relay GSE, KIPP NYC, MLT (Management Leadership for Tomorrow), Morgan Stanley, and General Mills. She is a board member for two Brooklyn Charter Schools—PAVE and Launch Expeditionary Learning—as well as Saga Education, a national leader providing consulting and technical assistance to help organizations develop and implement high-impact tutoring, and Highlander Institute, an organization that partners with communities to create more effective schools to improve outcomes for all students.
Melanie earned an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. She is pursuing an M.A. in Education Technology at NYU Steinhardt. She enjoys volunteering, spending time with friends, traveling, and exploring Brooklyn with loved ones.