Academics


  • VISION

    The Curriculum and Instruction department will provide all staff with the training, support, and resources necessary to ensure pedagogical and content knowledge and to create responsive classroom cultures where students feel emotionally, intellectually, culturally, and physically safe and valued. 

     

    MISSION

    The Curriculum and Instruction department will support all staff to reflectively practice, integrate, and deliver the following to all students: 

    • rigorous core through the use of differentiated practices 

    • intentional scaffolding by responding to the uniqueness of every learner 

    • equitable learning environments that intentionally see learning as a socio-cultural experience 

    • culturally responsive lessons that foster authentic student engagement
  • Melissa Hedt
    Melissa Hedt
    Deputy Superintendent of Accountability and Instruction
    (828) 350-6130 
    melissa.hedt@acsgmail.net

  • ABOUT MELISSA HEDT, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND INSTRUCTION

     

    Melissa Hedt began her career in education as a preschool teacher in Chapel Hill, NC in 1996.  She has served Asheville City Schools since 1999 as a classroom teacher at Asheville Middle School, District Literacy Coach, K-12 Special Programs Coordinator, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, and currently as the Deputy Superintendent of Accountability and Instruction. Melissa holds a National Board certification in Early Adolescent Literacy and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She has worked with several national educational organizations to develop literacy curriculum including the Literacy Design Collaborative.  Additionally, Melissa has extensive experience in presenting at state and national conferences and served as a National Paideia Center Faculty Member for six years.

     

    In her years with Asheville City Schools, Melissa has been recognized with the ACS Student Achievement Task Force Outstanding Teacher Award for her work on narrowing the achievement gap in reading.  She was also the recipient of the NC Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) Outstanding Young Educator award in 2007.  Melissa’s publications include “Transporting Students Into Thin Air: Using Science to Enhance Reading” in Science Scope, 2010 and “Think Like a Seminar” in Educational Leadership Magazine, 2012.

     

    Melissa maintains a student-centered perspective in her work with Asheville City Schools and strongly values relationships with families and the community.  Throughout the years, Melissa has collaborated with numerous community members and organizations.  She has also worked for several community partners, including the Hillcrest summer program, the Delta House Life Empowerment of Asheville, and Western Carolina University.  Currently, she serves on the board of the Asheville Buncombe United Way. During her 22-year career with Asheville City Schools, Melissa has been instrumental in securing numerous grants, most recently a $660,000 21st Century Community Learning Center grant that funds free afterschool and summer programming in ACS elementary schools.

     

    In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, playing music, and being outdoors.