Assistant Principal's Message

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Melinda Frates

Hello, amazing families!

As a proud alumna of Westminster Public Schools and someone who has spent 22 years growing, learning, and leading within this district, I can say without a doubt—this community has my heart. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of teaching grades 3 through 5, supporting young readers K–5 as an interventionist, serving as an Instructional Coach, guiding students as Dean of Students, and now living my dream as an Assistant Principal. (I’ve worn a few hats—thankfully none of them clashed too badly with my shoes!)

On the home front, I’m a proud mama to four wonderful, wild, and wacky kiddos ranging from 6 to 22 years old. My free time is filled with cheering from the sidelines at their games, re-reading the Harry Potter series like I’m waiting for my Hogwarts letter (again), and enjoying every precious moment I get with my family—chaos and all.

My passion? Helping students see the limitless possibilities ahead of them. I truly believe that with perseverance, a positive mindset, and a willingness to take initiative, every child can achieve greatness. My goal is to empower our students to be problem-solvers, communicators, and collaborative teammates who believe in themselves—and maybe even learn to love Mondays (hey, we can dream, right?).

Here’s to a year of growth, laughter, learning, and magic. I can’t wait to partner with you to make this the best year yet!

Warmly,

Melinda Frates

Assistant Principal
Orchard Park Academy
mfrates@wps.org
303-428-2300