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.
Erin Snee, Assistant Principal, Middle School (LaBrum) Campus; Ejmcintyre@philasd.org
I am incredibly excited and honored to introduce myself as your new Middle School Assistant Principal and join the Hancock School family. I am truly looking forward to getting to know each of you.
While I may be new to this building, I have been an educator in the School District of Philadelphia for over twenty years, serving as both a teacher and an administrator. The majority of my career was spent at Lawton School, where I had the privilege of working with amazing students, dedicated teachers, and supportive families. There, I focused on creating positive learning environments and building strong relationships within the school community, and I’m eager to bring that experience and enthusiasm here.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children. I can often be found on the soccer field, traveling to see my son who serves in the United States Marine Corps, or visiting my daughter as she begins her college life in Florida. I believe strong relationships are at the heart of a successful school, and I am committed to building those connections with all of you.
I am truly passionate about middle school education and helping young people thrive during these pivotal years. I can’t wait to collaborate with our students, staff, and parents to make this school year an exceptional one. Please don’t hesitate to say hello when you see me around!