Ryan began his career in education teaching 8th grade World History in Oklahoma before relocating to Alabama in 2009. Since that time, he has served students and schools in a variety of roles, including Social Studies teacher, Technology Integrationist, Principal, and District Administrator.

As a school leader, Ryan is known for building strong systems, developing people, and cultivating a culture where both students and staff thrive. As a founding member of a public school district in central Alabama, he played a key role in establishing a culture of excellence, innovation, and high expectations that continues to shape the district’s success. His leadership experience includes oversight of campus operations, instructional improvement, and strategic initiatives, as well as district-level responsibilities in Human Resources, Technology, Federal Programs, and Communications.

Ryan holds advanced degrees in Instructional Technology and Instructional Leadership. He is deeply committed to student-centered learning, effective leadership, and continuous improvement. His work is guided by the belief that every student deserves a sense of belonging, meaningful learning experiences, and opportunities to discover their strengths and purpose.

Ms. Regina Dickens brings 18 years of experience in education, serving as a classroom teacher in grades 2–6, an ARI Reading Coach, and a longtime coach for school cheer and dance teams. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Alabama State University, a Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of West Alabama, and a Master’s in Instructional Leadership from the University of Montevallo.

Ms. Dickens is proud to be in her second year as an administrator and is excited to continue serving as Assistant Principal at Pelham Park Middle School. She has been honored with several awards throughout her career, including being named "Teacher of the Year" during her time in Pelham City Schools. Passionate about leadership, she is dedicated to fostering a culture of growth, supporting teachers, and ensuring every student thrives.

Josef Lauderdale joins the Pelham Park Middle School family bringing 11 years of experience in education. He is no stranger to Pelham City Schools as he has been a teacher and coach at Pelham High School since 2020. Prior to his tenure in our system, he spent time at Prattville High School as well as Ashford Middle and High Schools.

His leadership roles at Pelham High School include working as a member of the Response to Intervention (RTI) Team and School Safety Team. He also served as Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator for our Varsity football team.

Outside of his roles in Pelham, he is a member of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), and an active participant in the Aspiring School Leaders Academy, where he focuses on creating school communities of character, building positive relationships, and enhancing student engagement.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Science Education, as well as a master’s degree in Sports Management from Troy University. He also holds a master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of West Alabama.

Alicia Melton is the Instructional Coach at Pelham Park Middle School. She is originally from Mississippi where she graduated from the University of Mississippi. She began her teaching career in Charlotte, NC as a middle school science teacher and came to Pelham in 2014. She served as Academic Specialist and Assistant Principal at PPMS prior to taking her current position. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and cheering on her 2 kids at the soccer field and horseback riding arena.