Veteran educator Patricia Melcher brings a passion for teaching, learning and community to her new role as principal at Rye Lake Middle-High School.

Ms. Melcher officially joined Southern Westchester BOCES on Aug. 25, bringing a passionate approach and an educational background centered on teaching and leadership.

A former English and American Literature major, she entered the classroom through the New York City Teaching Fellows program. She went on to teach high school English in White Plains before earning a master’s degree in school administration.

“I like to tell people that I'm primarily a teacher first,” she says.

Along the way, she has embraced new challenges and opportunities, including living in Austria and taking solo trips through Italy. A mother of three children and an enthusiastic cook, she once hosted her own cooking show on Facebook, sharing her love of Haitian and Caribbean cuisine.

She hopes to develop a chili recipe worthy of Rye Lake’s popular Super Bowl cookoff. “I am very competitive when it comes to cooking,” she admits.

Ms. Melcher describes herself as a lifelong learner who is always eager for new challenges.

Her immediate priority is to listen and learn from the staff who know Rye Lake best while getting to know the school community. With students coming from different districts and backgrounds, she also wants to build upon the sense of shared identity at Rye Lake.

“How do we build culture so that there is a greater sense of belonging?” she says. “What is it that identifies who we are as a school community?”

Ms. Melcher looks to existing programs and activities, including PBIS and intramural athletics, to help build cohesion. She is also eager to build relationships with her entire educational and support team.

Over the summer, she attended an administrative retreat, prior to her first day on the job, and got a glimpse of the breadth and scope of BOCES programs.

She has since had the opportunity to tour SWBOCES’ Special Services locations that host programs across the county. Meanwhile, her counterparts at other sites have been quick to offer support as she settles in, offering a clue to the collaborative culture that defines SWBOCES.

“So far," she says, "it's been a great introduction to the organization."