Mellow Lee
Lessons in Leadership
January 2025 Issue
by Lesley Kyle
Photography by
Cassidy Dunn Photography
Mellow Lee began visiting her grandparents’
Hilton Head Island home in the mid-1980s.
Somehow their tiny piece of the Lowcountry always felt like a close second home to her. Mellow spent her entire life in Charleston, West Virginia, except for a year in Morgantown. However, life somewhat came full circle for her, and the Lowcountry became her next home when the Beaufort County School District Deputy Superintendent position became available in September 2023.
“It was difficult to leave my coworkers and family in West Virginia, but it was an opportunity, and I was looking for something to help me grow,” said Mellow. Her son, his fiancé, and their daughter moved into Mellow’s West Virginia home, while she headed south. “I had my mind set on coming here,” she said. However, she was surprised when she received the phone call from Beaufort County School District, as she had previously applied for the same position and never heard back.
A graduate of South Charleston High School (WV) , Mellow attended several different colleges, including the University of Charleston and West Virginia State University. After graduation, she taught elementary school and coached middle and high school cheerleading in Kanawha County Schools. Even as a first year as a teacher, Mellow’s leadership aptitude was recognized by her superiors, and she was put in charge of the building. They encouraged her to pursue administration studies as part of her career path. She took their advice to heart, studied hard, and landed a position as a middle school assistant principal.
On the fast track like a superstar, Mellow worked her way up the administration leadership ladder, taking on positions as principal at various elementary schools throughout the county. She continued her career journey moving into the challenging role of transformation specialist, where she worked with low-performing schools and spent time traveling between campuses.
Her passion for education never wavered, nor did her pursuit to better herself. In 2022, Mellow received her Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi and became Deputy Superintendent for Beaufort County in September 2023. “My dad says I’m a ‘road’ scholar,” joked Mellow, who has a particularly positive approach to education.
“Everyone has something to offer,” she explained. “Providing leadership opportunities and utilizing each individual’s strengths is important in all organizations, but it’s especially important in education. Working together as a team produces better outcomes.”
Mellow makes it a point to surround herself with people who have different strengths to help her continue to learn and grow. She believes this helps build future leaders who will contribute to organizational growth and excellence. Mellow cites great mentors throughout her career who helped forge her path, and she hopes to do that for others, as well.
Many people enjoy their occupations, but Mellow’s passion for education is visibly infectious. She credits her formative years in the the West Virginia public school system as her motivation. Her parents married young, and her mother started an in-home daycare business when Mellow was a child. Her mom was patient, kind, and accepting of all of the children who entered the family home. Mellow, on the other hand, didn’t have that same experience when she started public school kindergarten. “Kids were treated differently based on where they came from,” she said. “I became one of those challenging students who questioned authority.” However, she eventually connected with a few teachers, but by then, she already knew she wanted to get into education. “I have always had a passion for kids, and I want to ensure that all kids have a positive experience.” That positive experience extends into finding opportunities for students, whatever they may be. “Success looks different for every child,” she said. Her son went to trade school instead of college, and now has a successful career as a lineman with an electric company. “I’m glad he felt comfortable approaching me about not going to college,” said Mellow. He is now attending college, and his company is paying for it. “We need to make our children—and our students—comfortable enough to have those conversations with us when they need to.”
Achieving a healthy work-life balance is a challenge for Mellow. She misses her friends and family in West Virginia and visits them when she can. Her mom and dad are among her biggest supporters and fans. “My colleagues inspire me by sharing new ways to learn and improve our system,” she said. “It’s our responsibility to do the best we can while we’re here and enjoy it as we do it.”
Dr. Mellow Lee is in love with everything about Beaufort County School District. “There are great educators here. I love listening and learning, visiting schools, and talking with students. The more involved in the community I become, the more I learn how I can help them!”
Up Close:
Fun Fact: Mellow’s grandma name is “G-Low”. (“G” for grandmother and “Low” is short for Mellow.)
Words to Live By: The best way to predict your future is to create it.
Real First Name: Mellow’s unique first name is her given name!