After months of research and interviews, the search is over. Minnie Lee will be joining SPA next year to fill the role of Upper School principal.

Lee tributes the mission statement as a reason she chose SPA: “The school’s commitment to ‘shaping the minds and the hearts of the people who will change the world’ manifests in its culture of teaching and learning, embracing of DEIB work, and appetite for innovation,” she said.

Head of School Luis Ottley began the process by having one-on-one conversations with the 20+ applicants over winter break, From there a faculty search committee went over cover letters, resumes, and read the applicant’s personal philosophies on education.

Assistant Director of College Counseling Karna Ivory was part of the committee and said of Lee, “She felt very real and authentic.”

The last part of the search included a campus visit; at this point, three candidates were still being considered.

In addition to interviews with administration and faculty, candidates met with a student panel of mixed-grade students.

Junior Melina Kannakutty was on that panel and thinks that Lee’s time in the classroom will be an asset to the principal role. “She was a teacher before she became admin, so she’s really invested in student connection,” Kannakutty said.

Also on the panel was freshman Luwam Mebrahtu. They said Lee asked questions not just about the school, but about the panelists too: “She cares about students’ personal lives […] she made me feel comfortable,” Mebrahtu said.

After Lee accepted the post, a message from the Head of School Luis Ottley was sent to the community. “Ms. Lee impressed the search committee and our Upper School community with her strong academic and professional background as well as her thoughtfulness, her dedication to her students, and her empathy,” Ottley wrote.

Lee is originally from PA and attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her BA in Biology and her master’s in Middle School Education.

Pennsylvania pride runs deeps for Lee. “As much as my family and I are excited about creating a new home in Minnesota…we cannot be Vikings fans. Fly, Eagles, Fly,” Lee said.

Lee currently works at George School and started there in 2004 as a chemistry and biology teacher, dorm parent, and advisor. She became assistant dean and, in 2017, became Director of Learning Services. As director, she oversees a team of learning support specialists. She is responsible for managing and evaluating all academic support services, working with faculty on best practices in the classroom and with students to create academic support plans.

Outside of school, Lee enjoys reading, sci-fi shows, and staying active.

“I’ve heard so much about the natural beauty of local hiking trails and lakes [in Minnesota],” Lee said, “so I’m eager to experience them.”

It’s been a time of turnaround on the Randolph Campus: Lee will be the fourth principal in four years. She is joining an upper school administrative team with a second-year Dean of Students and an Academic Dean who started in 2018 and spent much of his time adapting an academic schedule through the pandemic.
Students hope Lee offers stability. “I’m really excited for her to bring consistency; she’s really in it for the long haul,” Kannakutty said.

Lee will settle into the principal’s office starting in July.