Teachers Are The Engine of School Success with Chien Nee – PMP 517

A Quick Note to Listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is:

What is a story with a student, teacher or community member that reminded you why you are an educator?

Listen in to hear their response! They also invite listeners to reflect on this question as they finish their work week.

Meet Chien Nee:

Chien “Ray” Nee, is a transformational education leader with more than two decades of experience. He currently serves as a Performance Specialist in Maryland’s second-largest school district, where he supports, monitors, and evaluates instruction across 104 elementary schools, impacting more than 50,000 students.

Chien’s work is grounded in a belief in thinking bigger. Before moving into district leadership, he served as principal of a K–8 charter school, where he led the school to its first four-star rating on the Maryland State Report Card, a distinction it maintained throughout his tenure. He also served as an assistant principal and resident principal in Baltimore City Public Schools.

A graduate of the New Leaders program, Chien believes teachers are the engine of school success. His leadership focuses on instructional rigor, intentional coaching, strong relationships, and celebrating great teaching, with a commitment to the daily habits that drive lasting student achievement.

A Consistent Mission with a Broader Lens:

Chien emphasizes that while his role has evolved from classroom teacher to school leader to district-level support, his core mission remains the same: creating meaningful academic impact for students. What has changed is his vantage point. He now sees how individual teacher effectiveness scales into system-wide success, reinforcing the importance of every educator’s role.

The Core of Student Achievement:

At the heart of Chien’s message are three essential elements that drive student success: engagement, relationships, and relevance. When teachers actively engage students, build strong relationships, and make learning meaningful, classrooms become places where students want to be. These elements not only improve learning outcomes but also influence key indicators like attendance and overall student motivation.