After 25 years of service, Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor Dr. Chris Lee stepped down from his job at Pali to pursue a new leadership opportunity at Granada Hills Charter High School. Lee had various roles and responsibilities during his time at Pali, working as a Leadership Advisor, a social studies teacher and an Assistant Principal in the attendance office before moving to the counseling office.
Lee said he dedicated his time at Pali to the students, ensuring a comfortable experience for all.
“I like any opportunity where I can work for the betterment of the kiddos,” he said. “That’s why I went into education.”
“I’d like to think that I’ve helped foster kids’ belief in themselves,” he continued. “Knowing that I helped create an environment where the kids could feel successful gives me confidence.”
Lee’s teaching methods inspired his colleagues to prioritize individual student needs and foster a motivational classroom culture.
AP English Language teacher and department chair Randy Tenan-Snow and Spanish teacher and head swim Coach Maggie Nance, both longtime educators, reflected on the valuable lessons they learned from observing Lee’s approach.
“Lee further taught me how every student is unique in their own way,” Tenan-Snow said. “Systems are important, but the individual is more important.”
Nance, who has known Lee since they were 15-year-old students at Pali, also said that Lee influenced her own teaching methods. “[We both believe] the culture of a classroom affects student success,” she said. “Kids are more likely to succeed if they’re having fun.”
“He’s done a ton of work here to make sure that kids are cared for and heard. Making sure that [students] felt like [they] had a voice and that what [they] thought and felt was important,” Nance added.
Lee not only influenced teachers — he also inspired some students. Senior and Associated Student Body (ASB) President, Charlie Speiser worked closely with Lee as ASB’s Commissioner of Communications during the 2023-2024 school year.
“Dr. Lee always listened to student concerns,” he reflected. “He also cared for what the students had going on both in and outside of school and did whatever he could to help.”
Speiser described Lee’s attitude and personality as a presence that encouraged everyone surrounding him to strive for the best versions of themselves.
“Everyone just saw the passion he had and it motivated everyone else to want to do their best,” he added. “I think that this has really made Pali into what it is today.”
Following Lee’s departure, his fellow educators expressed a multitude of emotions about him leaving.
“Not having him here is an emotional loss because he had a lot of positive energy,” Tenan-Snow said.
“[He] just truly cared about every student and their education. I don’t know that a lot of people can relate and find [students] so much fun,” Nance added.
Despite expressing sadness over Lee’s departure, Nance voiced her support for Lee’s growth and drive to achieve more. “He’s been here a long time, and is moving onward and upward,” she said. “Pali will continue on.”
Lee offered some advice from the lessons he learned from his time at Pali for his successor. “[My replacement] should be committed to their mission of creating opportunities for all students to have great educational experiences,” he said.
Ultimately, Lee said his decision to leave Pali was motivated by his dedication to lifelong learning.
“I have the opportunity to [grow] professionally, and I want to take advantage of that,” he explained. “I [want] to keep growing and learning because that’s what motivates me.”
Lee signed off on Sep. 23 with a final “Goodbye Palisades.”
