SMMUSD Hires Melodi Johnson As Special Education Coordinator

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has a new special education coordinator, who comes to the district from Palisades Charter High School.

The Board of Education last week voted to appoint Melodi Johnson to the role. She'll start work on Sept. 23, according to the district.

"Melodi Johnson’s deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and student advocacy aligns perfectly with the core values of our district," Superintendent Antonio Shelton said in a release. "Her leadership, experience, and dedication to supporting special education students make her the ideal person to step into this role and continue to advance our mission of providing an inclusive and supportive educational environment."

Johnson most recently served as the special education coordinator at Pali High, where she also held the role of interim special education director. In those positions, she coordinated the delivery of specialized services, ensured program compliance and evaluated a diverse team of special education staff.

She also previously worked as an assistant principal at Vista Non-Public School, where she developed programs for at-risk youth, trained teachers on classroom management strategies and led efforts to increase student enrollment and return students to public school settings.

She also worked as a middle school special day class teacher, where she managed individualized education plans, delivered instruction to developmentally challenged students and cultivated relationships with students and staff.

Johnson has a bachelors degree in psychology from UC Riverside; a master's in special education and a master's in school leadership from Cal State Dominguez Hills and holds clear special education and administrative services credentials.

“I am truly humbled and thrilled to be joining the special education team at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, in the role of special education coordinator,” said Johnson. “It is my mission to support our students and staff by building trust with the community, collaborating with educational partners to ensure the best educational outcomes for our students, and reinforcing policies that foster a culture of inclusion, respect and understanding. I am determined to lead from the heart, allowing my compassion, knowledge, drive, and experience to be my guide.”