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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.
Supporting Leaders and Schools:
Chien describes his work as deeply collaborative, supporting district leaders, principal supervisors, and school principals. His favorite part of the role is being on-site in schools, working directly with leadership teams that include principals, assistant principals, and teacher leaders. Through job-embedded professional development, he helps teams strengthen their instructional practices while honoring the unique ecosystem of each school.
Building Trust Through Relationships:
A key part of Chien’s leadership approach is building trust through authentic relationships. He explains that effective coaching begins with being a reliable and consistent thought partner. Because leaders’ time is limited, every interaction must be meaningful and valuable. Trust is built over time through consistency, responsiveness, and a genuine commitment to supporting others.
Balancing Expectations and Support:
When it comes to holding leaders accountable while supporting their growth, Chien offers a practical framework built on three guiding questions: What do they already know? What are they currently wrestling with? What will be immediately useful? These questions ensure that coaching is personalized, timely, and actionable, helping leaders grow in ways that directly impact their work.
Creating Healthy School Systems:
Chien also shares insight into building healthy systems within schools. He encourages leaders to prioritize visibility and connection, making time for brief but meaningful interactions with teachers throughout the day. Small actions—like visiting classrooms or leaving positive feedback—can shape a school’s culture and climate. He challenges leaders to increase their presence intentionally, knowing that these moments build trust and reinforce support.
Consistency Over Intensity:
One of the most powerful ideas from the conversation is the importance of consistency over intensity. Sustainable impact comes from daily habits and intentional actions repeated over time, not from occasional bursts of effort. By consistently showing up, engaging with teachers, and supporting leaders, school leaders can create lasting and meaningful change.
Bloom Where You Are Planted:
As the episode closes, Chien leaves listeners with a simple but powerful message: “bloom where you are planted.” He reminds educators that while the work is challenging, focusing on doing the best with what is in front of you will lead to meaningful impact.
Staying Connected:
If you would like to learn more about Chien’s work, visit his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiennee/
