Meet the Administrators
Melissa Bragg, Principal; Mbragg@Philasd.org
Greetings Hancock Families and Community Members,
It is my honor to serve as Hancock’s principal. I am a proud Philadelphia High School for Girls alumna who went on to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. After Howard, I returned to my beloved hometown to begin my career in education. I became a Philadelphia Teaching Fellow and earned my Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Chestnut Hill College. I had the privilege to teach English Language Arts and Social Studies in 6th-8th grade during my time as a classroom teacher. I am passionate about developing and maintaining a school community that prioritizes belonging, intentional joy, and quality learning experiences for students, staff, and families. I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children and anything Harry Potter. I look forward to collaborating with all community members to honor the traditions and celebrate new opportunities at The John Hancock Demonstration Schools.
Chris Oswald, Assistant Principal, Elementary School Campus; Ceoswald@philasd.org
Dear Hancock Family,
It is my honor to be an Assistant Principal at John Hancock Demonstration School. During my first year, this school community welcomed me with open arms, and I look forward to continuing to support the Hancock students and their families.
From 2006 until 2016, I enjoyed every day of teaching fifth grade at Mayfair Elementary while coaching football, basketball, and baseball. I even had some time for Students Run Philly Style. In 2016, I made the difficult decision to leave the classroom and take a position as the School-Based Teacher Leader. While I was an SBTL, I held many other roles in the school, such as testing coordinator, master scheduler, Title 1 coordinator, and Digital Learning Coordinator. During this time, I committed to a district partnership with Temple University to obtain my certification in Urban School Leadership. From 2019-2021, I was an Assistant Principal at Edwin Forrest School and worked to make incredible progress with student achievement.
On a personal note, my wife is a special education teacher at Mayfair Elementary, and we have been married for 10 years with 3 children ranging in age from 2 to 7. Nights & weekends are filled with soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and dance, but we love spending as much time as possible down the shore.
I look forward to working with the students and families at Hancock to ensure students love coming to school and learning every day! I cannot wait to meet all of you at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.
Kevin Kelly, Assistant Principal, Middle School (LaBrum) Campus; Kmkelly@philasd.org
It has been a pleasure to work as an educator at the Hancock Demonstration Schools for the past seven years. In 2021, I stepped into the role of assistant principal at the middle school campus– a role I take very seriously as I continue working to build the kind of middle school experience that our students and families deserve.
Previously, I taught high school in Massachusetts and Tennessee before relocating to Philadelphia with my wife. When I arrived at the LaBrum campus, I taught literacy to grade eight students at LaBrum, transitioning to a school-based teacher leader, and ultimately moving into my current position.
Before teaching, I earned my bachelor’s degree from Temple University, as well as a master’s degree from Harvard University. In 2021, I completed my principal training at the University of Pennsylvania’s School Leadership Program.
Outside of school, I enjoy playing guitar and spending my time with my family. My dad-time is my favorite part of the day. I have great fun watching my daughter and son swim, play soccer, and make art all around our house.