Patch Chats with Dr. Lisa Chen

Students arriving at  for the first day of the 2011-12 school year on Thursday, Sept. 8 found a new principal at the helm, Dr. Lisa Chen. Chen was hired in May to take over for former principal Glenn Brand, who left for an assistant superintendent position with Sharon Public Schools. 

Chen is among 22 new staff members at Pollard Middle School this year, including new social studies, science, health, Spanish, English and engineering design teachers, special education liaisons and others, plus three student teachers.

Patch sat down with Chen recently to talk about her work prior to coming to Needham and her thoughts on the new job and a new school year.

What was your position before coming to Needham? I had the privilege to work with Principal Karol Coffin [as vice principal at Wamsutta Middle School] in Attleboro, in a school that is grades 5-8, so it has both an elementary and a middle school model.

How have you been acquainting yourself with the school and the Needham community?  I have spent a lot of time this summer getting to know folks. Through my entry plan, I’ve met with some teachers, parents, members of the PTC and a lot of community organizations. I met with central administrators, administrators and with School Committee members to find out what they really like about Pollard or what are they excited about when it comes to Pollard, and what are some areas they perceive as areas that we need to grow in. All that information has been very insightful for me.

How would you describe your leadership style? I really believe in a collaborative leadership style and I really believe in what’s called ‘high-performance teaming.' You can't do it all, so you have to trust the people you work with, you have to build relationships and you have to delegate some of that work, but with everyone having a common, core understanding of what’s in the best interest of kids. I find it’s very exciting when you can empower folks and build those teams, because in the end I think what makes a principal truly excellent is when you can step away and the people say that 'we own this—this is actually ours.' That’s when you know what you’ve done has really worked, and it’s been sustainable.

What else is new at Pollard this year? There is  [in which Newman preschool and kindergarten students will be attending class in modules at Pollard]. I think it’s an exciting opportunity to work with Diane Dunham, the preschool coordinator, and with Jessica Peterson, the principal at Newman, and also the vice principal, Greg Bayse. They’ve been nothing but outstanding. I see a whole bunch of community service opportunities that could occur with our grade 8 students and some of the preschool and kindergarten students, especially with the community service learning projects that grade 8 students need to do.

Are there any other new initiatives or programs? There’s already been work on what’s called a ‘middle school task force’ that started under Principal Glenn Brand. It’s just taking a look at creating Pollard’s identity and, when there is a population increase, what will Pollard look like in the future. I’ll be continuing on with that work, taking the work that has already been done.

What is really exciting is the advisory program that is revamped. For the most part, when I’ve spoken to teachers, they really like the program. This seems to be something that has really worked well for kids; they have a sense of community. So how do we make it even better? That’s one of the things that we’re going to be working on. Kids know in the first two days of school they have extended advisory, so it’s a time in which they get to meet their peers—some for the first time—and to be connecting with that one adult that they know, other than their teachers, is someone here at school that makes them feel very welcomed. It’s not new this year; it’s always been in the process, but I think we’re just taking another look at it and how to make it even better.

How did you get started in education? If it hadn’t been for my third grade reading teacher, I don’t think I would be sitting here talking to you. She taught me how to read and write. I’ve always had a passion for trying to help others have the best education possible, because she gave me a voice. English is not my first language. It took me about seven years to learn how to speak English. She literally taught me the ‘a-e-i-o-u’s and I learned by watching her mouth.

What is your first language? Taiwanese. I was ‘made in Taiwan.’ I came over when I was very young and my parents were not fluent in English so when I would come home every day from school, the only exposure to English I got was what I learned in school, and of course what I saw on TV. It’s very hard when you learn English without being able to practice it with someone at home.

Why did you make the move from teacher to administrator? I began my teaching career in a program called Teach for America, and I absolutely loved it. I think it helped ground me and helped me to see what I can and can’t do in education. While I loved teaching and I hope that people can see me as a teacher, you see a different perspective when you become an administrator. One can’t be without the other. I continue to enjoy teaching, and I also like this work, too, because it’s creating a vision for the school.

What’s your favorite thing about starting a new school year? Meeting people and knowing that they come with a fresh perspective. While they’re learning about me, I’m learning about them, and it’s building that relationship that makes it very exciting.