Dear Rice Families -
It is with great joy that I announce Dr. Theresa Lee as the principal of Rice Children’s Center! Dr. Lee has done an excellent job serving as the acting principal at Rice since the beginning of this school year; I’m grateful for her consistent leadership and the steps she’s taken to cultivate relationships among staff, students, and Lydia Home. Her appointment was approved by the School Board this week and will go into effect immediately.
We are grateful for the staff and families who gave their feedback as part of our community survey and for those who served on the interview panel. We heard the desire for a leader who is visible, collaborative, adaptive, and knowledgeable. In her time as acting principal and throughout the interview process, Dr. Lee has demonstrated an ability to celebrate the unique strengths of each student and develop clear plans to ensure their success at school. Her connection to both students and staff have been instrumental in building a positive school culture built on warmth, high expectations, and systems.
Before coming to Rice, Dr. Lee served as the Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center for six years. Her journey in education began as a classroom teacher assistant and then as an assistant principal in Chicago Public Schools for seven years. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Northeastern Illinois University, an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Illinois University, a M.Div. from Garrett Theological School, and most recently her EdD in Urban Education Leadership at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she deepened her capacity to lead instructional transformation and system-level equity efforts.
I truly believe that students should be at the center of everything we do and every decision we make. When I visit Rice, I see that in action and in large part due to Dr. Lee’s leadership. We will continue to support her and the entire Rice staff and look forward to continuing this progress. Thank you for your partnership!
