Lesley Harris, GC'16, hired to lead new Chester Early Learning Center

March 1, 2021

Lesley Harris, GC’16, has been hired as the first ever principal of Chesterfield County’s new Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy scheduled to open for Fall 2021.

In fall 2020, the Chesterfield County School Board approved the creation of the Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy, in which approximately 480 additional students will be served onsite in Head Start, Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), Early Childhood Special Education and Title I classes. The new school will serve students from Bellwood, Bensley, Beulah, M. Christian, Curtis, C.C. Wells, Ecoff, Enon, Harrowgate, Gates, Salem Church, and Elizabeth Scott elementary schools. Chesterfield County Public Schools in now accepting applications to the center.

Harris, who completed her graduate certificate in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at SPCS in 2016, was appointed the school’s first principal during the School Board’s February 9 meeting. The photo (above) is a screen shot of Harris’ during the appointment.