Lisa Epstein is the Principal of Richard Henry Lee Elementary on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Since taking the helm in 2012, she has led the school’s transformation into an extraordinary community institution, successfully elevating its rating. Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education from the University of Miami, alongside master’s degrees in reading and curriculum and instruction. Over a 30 plus year career in Chicago Public Schools, Lisa has served as a teacher, Instructional Coach, School Improvement Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and director in the Office of Literacy. At Lee Elementary, she has worked collaboratively to accelerate academic achievement and social-emotional learning (SEL) through a personalized learning environment where students take ownership of their education. Under her leadership, the school has boosted parental involvement and established powerful partnerships with organizations like the Chicago Bulls, Cabrera Capital Market, LEAP Innovations just to name a few. A recognized leader in her field, Lisa was selected as a 2017 Cahn Fellow for Distinguished Principals and received the 2018 LEAP Innovator of Education Award. She is the author of “I’m a principal who thinks personalized learning shouldn’t be a debate" and frequently shares her work at national conferences such as the ASU GSV Summit. Today, Lisa continues to support the educational community in various roles and as a mentorships for CPS, and as an advisory board member for both National Louis University and the Cahn Fellows.