Melissa Ladner

Attended Gulf Stream School for 10 years.


Current Career
I am now a Senior Analyst for Geoeconomic Influence & Threat Intelligence at Janes Information Services.

Family
My sister, Katherine Ladner (Class of ’09), and brother, Jonathan Ladner (Class of ’03), also attended Gulf Stream School. They are now both based in New York City, working in public relations and finance, respectively.

How did your years at GSS benefit you in all of your post-graduate experiences and help make you who you are today?
Attending Gulf Stream School was a privilege. I learned about compassion, empathy and community through the GSS curriculum, and those values were only reinforced by the people at Gulf Stream. This mindset made me curious about the tenets of democracy and current events. As a result, I entered my education and early career with a passion for international relations. I now work in the foreign policy/international security sector, where I provide data and research that ultimately enables the defense of democracy and democratic values.

Who was your favorite teacher(s) and/or what was your favorite subject(s)?
I loved English and history courses at GSS, and many of the teachers who shaped my love of education have already been mentioned by previously featured alumni. So, I’d like to shine a light on the incredible staff who made GSS a one-of-a-kind experience. In particular, Mrs. Posey (who taught me manners with a quirked eyebrow); Ms. Tyson (who taught me to love stories by chatting with me about books); and Ms. Toni (who taught me how to keep the show going).

Any special experiences, memories or quotes?
It’s kind of wild that we went on school trips to Canada and Costa Rica. What an absolute gift of an experience to travel and engage with new cultures as well as build a sense of independence. Also…should anyone need a handbell player, I think I could dust off my gloves and make something happen!