GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) — When Arnaldo Melendez walks the halls of Burton Middle School, he sees pieces of his own story reflected in the scholars he serves.
"I am a native of Puerto Rico. I moved to the United States, specific to New York City, when I was 12 years old," said Burton Middle School Principal Arnaldo Melendez.
Melendez said the support he received from educators and his community helped shape his future and ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in education.
"When I was in New York, the community helped me succeed with my goals,” he said. “So many of the students that I see here in this community remind me of myself. I went into education for those reasons, because I wanted to make a difference."
After moving to Michigan, Melendez began his career at GRPS as a paraprofessional serving scholars with special needs. He later earned his bachelor's degree from Grand Valley State University and went on to teach at Southwest Elementary before advancing into leadership roles across the district.
Today, Melendez focuses on creating a school culture where every scholar feels valued and supported.
"Burton is a special community," he said. "My plan is to ensure that at Burton everyone feels that sense of belonging and that they feel safe.”
Melendez believes strong relationships are key to helping scholars succeed both academically and personally.
"What I communicate with scholars is that we are a team, and we're here to support each other," he said. "We are a great team. Our teachers are very committed to their roles and they are very supportive of each other.”
