Meet Our Team

• Mary Mélon

  PRESIDENT & CEO
  

  Mary Mélon

  PRESIDENT & CEO

  Mary Mélon was named president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation in Sept. 2014 after a 20+ year career leading a business publication, with local and national responsibilities. She, along with board members, district leaders and partners, spearheaded the development and implementation of the Teacher Pipeline Programs. Under her leadership, both the Bilingual and Diversity Teacher Pipeline programs have also joined New America’s national Grow Your Own Network which looks at ways to support community development efforts to improve and diversify the educator workforce. She received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and serves on the board of directors of the National Schools Foundation and received their Certified Leader designation. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Oklahoma City/County Health Department where she serves as vice-chair, and the Regional Transit Authority where she serves as secretary and chair of the Outreach Committee. 

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• Newt Brown

  DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
  

  Newt Brown

  DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

  Newt Brown currently serves as the Director of Finance & Operations for the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation and has been with The Foundation since 2011 when he was hired as Accounting Manager.  In this role at The Foundation Newt performs, coordinates or oversees all duties related to HR, payroll, accounting and IT.  Newt is a native of Norman, OK where he graduated from Norman High School and attended the University of Oklahoma obtaining a B.M.E in Vocal Music Education, magna cum laude.

  He began his career in the private sector working in restaurant management, customer service, accounting & HR and after approximately 10 years transitioned to the non-profit sector in 2010.  When not at The Foundation, Newt enjoys singing, travel, cooking/entertaining and spending time with family and friends.  He shares his home with two ornery cats, Erwin & Cody, which adopted him and mostly keep him out of trouble. 

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• Abbie Vaughan

  DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH
  

  Abbie Vaughan

  DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH

  Abbie Vaughan serves on the team at the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation as the Director of Community Outreach. In this role, she coordinates efforts to plan all Foundation events, manages the ReadOKC initiative, and works to foster new and existing community partnerships to support OKCPS. Abbie is a native Oklahoman and a product of Oklahoma City Public Schools, a graduate of the International Baccalaureate program at Classen School of Advanced Studies.

  She has worked in the non-profit sector since graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2014. She graduated from UCO with dual degrees in Outdoor and Community Recreation and Exercise/Fitness Management. Outside of work, you’ll find her cooking and hosting parties for friends and family, practicing yoga, and spending time with her husband Clay and their Bernese Mountain Dog, Norah.

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• Dawn Darbon

  Manager of Teacher Pipeline Programs & Administrative Support
  

  Dawn Darbon

  Manager of Teacher Pipeline Programs & Administrative Support

  Dawn Darbon is the manager of Teacher Pipeline Programs and Administrative Support for the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation. In this role, she coordinates all functions of the Teacher Pipeline, handles board communications and provides support to the executive director. Dawn is originally from New Orleans, LA and relocated to Oklahoma City after Hurricane Katrina.

  After 20 years in print media, she followed her passion for nonprofit work and joined the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and attending her children’s sporting events.

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• Alison Taylor

  ReadOKC On the Go! Program Coordinator
  

  Alison Taylor

  ReadOKC On the Go! Program Coordinator

  Alison serves as the Program Manager for ReadOKC On the Go! – Our rolling library is an ADA compliant school bus and carries over 3,000 books for students ages Pre-K to High School. Following a 40 year career in the financial services industry, Alison retired and became the first volunteer for the ReadOKC program helping it grow from a vision to a reality! Her initial involvement in ReadOKC was driven by her passion for literacy and her desire to bring the wonder and excitement of books to every child. In 2020, the opportunity to develop and manage the ReadOKC On the Go! Book Bus program was the natural next step. This role includes overseeing the bus retrofitting, grant writing, management of the book center, and effective teaming with the OKCPS schools. Her past leadership positions in both her professional career and the Oklahoma City non-profit sector were critical. A past recipient of the Journal Record Woman of the Year, Alison has previously served on the boards of Integris Baptist Medical Center, Allied Arts,  Leadership Oklahoma City (Class V), Westminster Presbyterian Church Foundation, and as president of the Center for Non-Profits. Her fall calendar is dedicated to following her alma mater – OU football – home and away! The rest of year she enjoys travel, three book clubs, and sharing time with her two grandchildren.

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• Callie Stephens

  OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
  

  Callie Stephens

  OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

  Callie Stephens serves as the Operations & Programs Coordinator at the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation. In this role, she contributes to Foundational impact by providing operational support, as well as program and event support. Callie is an Oklahoma native and proud University of Oklahoma alum.

  Upon completing her Master’s degree in Social Work in 2015, Callie followed her passion for educational equity to the classroom and became a certified teacher serving at-risk students in a low-income community. Callie has continued to work in the non-profit sector throughout the entirety of her career. When not at the Foundation, Callie enjoys traveling, reading, perfecting new recipes in the kitchen, and spending time with her husband Chad and their rescue dog, Vivian.