Frances Willard Elementary School

The mission/vision at Frances Willard is to prepare all children for individual success by providing a safe and inclusive quality education within a multicultural community. We believe our children deserve the best!

It is important to us that our students develop as leaders as well! In addition to the academic support we provide, students also learn AVID strategies to help them become strong leaders. Our students use AVID binders to learn how to best stay organized but we use them as a tool to help facilitate communication between home and school. “AVID Elementary is a foundational component of the AVID College Readiness System, and supports AVID’s mission to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society.” You can learn more about AVID at their site AVID Elementary.

Nikki Melody

Principal, Frances Willard Elementary, Rock Island, IL

Nikki Melody has spent her entire career in the Rock Island-Milan School District. After high school, Nikki attended Southern Illinois University as an elementary education major. After student teaching, Mrs. Melody spent the next 16 years in the classroom (15 years at WJHS and 1 at Frances Willard).  She also enjoyed coaching volleyball, working with the student council, and being an assistant coach for the RIHS girls' bowling team. Being a lifelong learner, Mrs. Melody returned to college and now has two master’s degrees. 

Upon finishing her degree in administration, she was offered a position in the newly formed Teaching and Learning Department. Although she loved the work she was doing that year, she missed being in school every day.  In 2014, Frances Willard was hiring their first-ever assistant principal. Mrs. Melody was offered the position and spent the next eight years in that role. In 2022, she was asked to become the interim principal, and in 2023 became the principal. She loves coming to work each day to see her scholars working as leaders and learners.   

Mrs. Melody is also a proud Rock Island parent. Her children, Mackenzie and Hunter, graduated from RIHS and were very active in school and athletics.  Between the two, they were involved in so many activities, including chamber choir, softball, theatre, baseball, golf, bass fishing, and National Honor Society. Following her kids from high school events to college events kept her very busy. Mrs. Melody adopted a puppy, Madie, and together they trained to become a therapy dog team.  Besides coming to school and making kids happy, they attend community events with the QCCAN organization.