Melissa Herek is a nine-year principal with six years of experience at Lawrence-Lawson Elementary School, which has been named a School of Recognition and Spotlight School since 2010. She has taken a progressive lead focusing on student and staff accountability and collaboration with a constant eye toward their mantra, “excellence for all, whatever it takes.” This collaboration has been key in developing a multi-tiered RTI System with universal academic and behavioral supports. Five-year data shows a decrease in students needing intervention and an increase in extended learning, resulting in the designation as a PBIS School of Distinction and RTI School of Merit since 2012. Serving on the Community Learning Center Advisory Committee and participating with a local community center for Hispanic families, Herek is always eager to share knowledge of school resources, curriculum, and vision with parents and community members. The Community Learning Center provides students with afterschool learning opportunities including homework help, college tutors to aid ELL students, and family nights highlighting academic and behavioral supports; which strengthen school-to-home partnerships. Herek has been named Wisconsin Title 1 Administrator of the Year and Midwest Reading Council Principal of the Year, and holds a Master’s in Education, Reading Specialist degree, Educational Leadership degree and Director of Instruction degree from Viterbo University.