Assistant Superintendent’s Entry Plan

Introduction to Dr. Lisa Chen

I am honored to have the opportunity to share with you who I am, my core values, and how I can partner with you to ensure that we meet the district’s vision and continue on our journey of learning, equity, and thriving. I look forward to serving you, the Burlington community, and working hand-in-hand with Dr. Conti.

Sincerely yours,
Lisa C. Chen, Ph.D.

Who am I?
I am a Christian.
I am the beloved daughter to Peter and Nancy Chen.
I am “Auntie Lisa” to Toshi and Emiko.
25 years of Education
English and Math Teacher
Middle and High School Coach
Graduate Supervisor (Boston College)
Adjunct Professor (Longwood University)
Assistant Principal (Wamsutta Middle School)
Assistant Principal (Dedham High School)
Principal (Barnstable Middle School)
Principal (Pollard Middle School)
Principal (Louisa County Middle School)
Director of Middle School Education and
Virtual/Professional Learning (Louisa County
Public Schools LCPS)
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction (LCPS)
Superintendent (Botetourt County Public Schools)

Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
English with African-American Studies
Oberlin College, 1996
Master of Arts (M.A.)
English Education
New York University and Oxford University, 2000
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Educational Administration
Boston College, 2009

I enjoy spending time with my family, exercising, and learning how to cook authentic Chinese
food from my mom!

Core Beliefs
Before describing my entry plan, I would like to share with you my core beliefs that have guided my career as a teacher, administrator, and district leader, and serve as the foundation of this entry plan.

Entry Plan

The purpose of this entry plan is to establish a set of intentional and inclusive activities so that I can listen and learn from you; create a strong presence in our schools and community; develop relationships with students, teachers, administrators, families, and community members; initiate ideas for sustaining and building on existing instructional programs and practices; identify any critical issues; and assist in strengthening the existing teams in Burlington. It will be my primary goal to work with Dr. Conti and all members of BPS to move our district to its next level.

Three Goals
This entry plan contains three broad goals:

Goal 1: Relationships and Communication
To cultivate trusting and collaborative working relationships and to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives of Burlington Public Schools and the community by having open, honest, and meaningful conversations with internal and external stakeholders.

Goal 2: Student Success
To ensure an effective, efficient, and orderly transition of leadership with the focus on increased student achievement and learning for every student.

Goal 3: Organizational Alignment and Capacity
To increase organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and operational accountability to ensure high performance and support to schools.

Two Phases
To reach these goals, two phases will occur in this entry plan: Phase I and Phase II. A brief summary of the activities is listed below.

Phase I :  [ July 2023 - Nov. 2023 ] 
Phase II :  [ Dec. 2023 – Jan. 2024 ] 

Thank you for taking the time to read my entry plan. I look forward to learning more about Burlington and working with you to ensure that each child feels a deep sense of belonging and receives the supports to develop to his/her/their fullest academic, emotional, and social potential. I know first-hand what a high-equality education can do for any student: it can transform a student’s life for the better. I am here to serve your child and you. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

I look forward to our work together and to our first day of school!

With much gratitude and appreciation,
Lisa