Lincoln Elementary Welcomes Interim Principal Melissa Hayes

Dear Lincoln Options ​families,

We are excited to announce that Melissa Hayes has been selected to serve as Interim Principal of Lincoln Elementary School for the 2026/27 school year, pending board approval.

Melissa is a longtime Olympia School District educator and a familiar member of the Lincoln community. While some families, including incoming kindergarten families, may be meeting her for the first time, many Lincoln students, staff and families already know Melissa through her work at our school in recent years. She joined Lincoln in 2023 as a first-grade teacher and then taught a 4th/5th-grade class for the past two years.

Prior to joining the Lincoln team, Melissa served as a K-5 Instructional Specialist, Administrative Intern and 4th-Grade Teacher in the Olympia School District. Melissa also taught in the Shelton School District before coming to OSD.

Throughout her career, Melissa has supported student learning and staff development in a variety of roles, including district intervention and enrichment work, strategic planning, Danielson Framework training, PLC implementation, PBIS leadership, mentoring new educators and supporting culturally responsive teaching practices. She holds an administrative certification from Seattle Pacific University, a Master of Arts in Education from Pacific Lutheran University and a Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College.

Melissa is known for her collaborative leadership style, instructional expertise and deep commitment to supporting students, staff and families. Her experience at Lincoln, along with her districtwide leadership experience, will help provide steady leadership and continuity for the Lincoln community during this transition.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Principal Marcela Abadi for her many years of leadership and service to Lincoln Elementary School. Her impact on students, staff and families has helped shape the strong school community that Lincoln is today.

Please join us in welcoming Melissa into this interim leadership role! We look forward to the care, experience and student-centered leadership she will bring to Lincoln.

Thank you all for your continued support of the Lincoln community.