RHIANNON POLITE, LEBANON ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Two years ago, Rhiannon Polite and her new leadership team took an honest look at the needs of Lebanon Road Elementary School. They realized that a complete instructional overhaul was necessary to clarify expectations for students and create a positive cultural shift. 

We had an opportunity to do a lot of new hiring over the summer,” said Polite, now in her fifth year as principal at Lebanon Road. “We really looked for fit more than anything – an emotional fit and the belief of what kids could do. We asked a lot of questions about belief, and then we completely redesigned our master schedule.”

Polite eliminated transitions for older students, who changed classes and teachers, and often misbehaved in the exchange. Instead, students developed a relationship with one teacher, learned one set of expectations and enjoyed smaller classes for most of the day.

“The kids loved it. They got more individualized attention, they didn't have to interact with as many adults who had maybe differing rules, and the teachers really liked having that time with their kids to focus on what they really needed,” said Polite, who was named the 2024-25 Principal of the Year finalist for Elementary School Performance Area B. “We also adopted Capturing Kids’ Hearts last year, so we were really able to focus on how we interact as adults and with our kids, who were able to tell us what they expected of us as far as the way we treated them. I think that was a game changer.”

The Lebanon Road team has since reaped the benefits of their work. The school exceeded growth for the 2023-24 school year and increased its letter grade on the state report card from D to C. Multilingual progress also was in the district’s top 10. A diverse school where 19 languages are spoken, it has just under 500 students – 55% are Hispanic and one-third identify as multilingual learners.

“It’s really nice to see the work that we did last year be recognized,” said Polite, who has worked in education for 18 years. “Last year was by far the most successful year that we’ve had at the school since I’ve been principal. I became a principal for the first time two weeks before COVID and 11 days later sent my entire staff home, so it was kind of a whirlwind. It was just really nice to notice that people have seen the change in our school, the things that we’re doing and the success that our students are having. It’s really exciting.”

A Michigan native, Polite graduated from the University of Michigan before moving south to escape the cold. She taught English at West Mecklenburg High School before leaving to attend Harvard Graduate School of Education full time. After two years teaching middle school in Washington, D.C., she returned to the district, where she served at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Leisa Christian, principal at Northeast Middle School, worked with Polite at Julius L. Chambers High School and Northeast, where Polite was assistant principal when Christian moved into the principal’s role.

“The No. 1 thing about her is that she is a really intelligent, brilliant principal who thinks outside the box to do what is best for students,” Christian said. “I saw that here at Northeast and then as she took her position at Lebanon Road. She really thought so creatively on how to maximize her resources instructionally to do what's best for kids and build a great student culture.

“We actually receive her students, and it is clear that they know what to do, that they know what is right, that they're hard workers and just really kind students,” she said. “That is attributed to the work they are doing at Lebanon Road under her leadership. It’s extraordinary to know her as a person, but also to have worked alongside her as she has grown and become such an amazing leader in our community.”