Poudre School District is excited to announce that Christen Mellars has been selected as the next principal of Rice Elementary School beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Mellars brings nearly two decades of education experience to the role and is looking forward to bringing consistent collaboration to make Rice thrive.
Mellars earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Colorado State Pueblo in 2009, her master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 2018, and her doctor of education in Curriculum and Instruction in 2024.
She comes to Rice with experience as both an elementary and middle school teacher across multiple grade levels and subject areas, and she has spent the last four years as an assistant principal in the Fountain-Fort Carson School District. Her time in education has shaped her approach to leadership and offered a strong understanding of both student and staff needs. She believes in building a positive school culture where relationships, trust, and belonging are at the center, supported by strong systems and clear expectations that help students succeed. Her leadership is grounded in collaboration, consistency, and clear communication, with an emphasis on strong staff culture, meaningful use of data, and creating an environment where people feel supported, accountable, and connected.
Throughout her career, Mellars has led work in strengthening MTSS, facilitating data-driven PLCs, and building systems that help teams respond to student needs in real time. She is also a Special Education Designee, a role she has used to support structures that ensure students receive the services they need while keeping the focus on both compliance and what is best for kids.
She credits her resilience, adaptability, and perspective to her experience as a military spouse, and she is coming to Rice following her partner’s recent retirement from military service.
Please join us in welcoming Christen Mellars as she prepares to lead Rice Elementary into its next chapter.