Lisa Lewis
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
Meet Lisa Lewis — a woman whose work quietly touches hundreds of Melrose students every single day.
Lisa is the Director of The Bridge: A School / Community Partnership, a nonprofit that recruits, screens, and places volunteers throughout the Melrose Public Schools. Her mission is simple and powerful: connect the strength of the Melrose community with the needs of its students and educators.
Each year, Lisa coordinates approximately 2,000 volunteers, generating more than 15,000 volunteer hours. These volunteers read in elementary libraries, lead PTOs, chaperone field trips, support classrooms, mentor students, and bring professional expertise into schools.
Behind every one of those connections is Lisa — listening carefully to educators, identifying where help is needed, and matching the right volunteer to the right opportunity.
Her path to this role began as a parent. When her own children were in school, and discussions around school choice were unfolding, Lisa stepped up as a Bridge volunteer. She saw firsthand how community involvement strengthens public education. When the director position opened in 2019, she was thrilled to take on the leadership role.
Lisa brings a Master’s degree in International Affairs and a deep passion for public education to everything she does. She also serves on the board of the Melrose Education Foundation, which raises private funds to support public schools through small teacher grants, enrichment programming, and longstanding initiatives like Parent University and community events.
What does she love most about her work? Creating meaningful connections. Helping teachers feel supported. Watching students benefit from new opportunities. Building events that expand horizons — from Community Reading Day during Read Across America to Career Day at the high school, 8th Grade Civics Day, college panels, and the much-anticipated 25th Annual Trivia Bee on March 28, 2026.
Lisa is proud that her work matters — to teachers, to students, and to the broader community. And because her position is funded entirely by The Bridge, she is also keenly aware of the importance of fundraising to sustain and grow this impact.
Beyond her professional commitments, Lisa loves Melrose for its genuine sense of community — the people, the local establishments, the willingness to show up for one another. That spirit is exactly what she cultivates every day through The Bridge.
The Bridge is always looking for volunteers — including seniors — who want to make a difference. And Lisa will be there to welcome them, guide them, and help them find their place.
Because when a community shows up for its schools, students thrive. And thanks to Lisa Lewis, Melrose keeps showing up.
