The 2026-2027 school year in Durant began Aug. 13 for grades first-12th and early childhood and kindergarten started Monday.
Mellissa Sherrer was recently named principal of Northwest Heights Elementary School, where she previously served as assistant principal.
She is excited about the start of the school year and during meet the teacher night last week, she said it was probably a record turnout.
“I think the kids and the parents are all really excited for us to get back,” Sherrer said. “We’ve been up here working the last three weeks, getting ready. Our custodial staff has done an incredible job. Classrooms look great and teachers are excited.”
This is Sherrer’s 13th year in administration and prior to that, she was at the intermediate school. “I taught fifth grade over there for six years and then I moved up to Washington Irving where I was the assistant principal and then I moved here three years ago to be the assistant principal and now I’m the principal,” Sherrer said.
She said being named principal was exciting. She was hired for the position after Principal Taylor Downs became the district’s curriculum director.
“So, when he made that move, I moved up to principal and I think we’re just all really excited to see the changes and it’s just an exciting time,” Sherrer said. “I think that the school is in great shape. I’m very excited to just keep things rolling.”
