Candidate Biography (submitted by campaign):

Christine Lee is a physician, and the founder of the Eye Institute of North Carolina, P.C., where she practices comprehensive ophthalmology, specializing in cataract and refractive surgery for the last 10 years.  She is married to Michael Lee, a faculty member at UNC; and they have three children:  Ted, a sophomore at college; Matthew, a junior at ECHHS; and Michelle, a sophomore at ECHHS.

For many years, Christine has been involved with CHCCS:

• East Chapel Hill High School Improvement Team, 2009-2011
• District's Strategic Planning Committee, 2007-2008
• ECHHS Speech and Debate Parent Booster Group, President, 2007-2008
• District's Asian Parents Advisory Group, 2006-2008
• Smith Middle School Governance Committee, Chair, 2005-2007
• District's SIT Chairs Committee, 2005-2007
• High School Redistricting Committee, 2005-2006
• ECHHS PTSA, 2004-2009
• Smith Middle School PTSA, 2003-2007
• Seawell Elementary School PTA, 2001-2004

Christine graduated with an Honors B.S. in Philosophy and Cellular /Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan in 1984 and obtained her M.D., also from Michigan, in 1989.  She was a HHMI-NIH Research Scholar from 1986-1987.  She completed her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Virginia in 1993.   She became a Clinical Assistant Professor at UNC-CH in 1994, but was soon promoted to Clinical Associate Professor in 1997 and held the position until 2008.

In addition, Christine currently serves on the Board of Sea Rock Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization since 2007.  She also served as the Chair of the Board of the Chapel Hill/Durham Korean School from 1995-2001.

I Believe Every Student Counts! 

We need to give opportunities to every student to help them achieve the best of his/her ability.  We should empower every student with the necessary knowledge and skills required to become an active and contributing member of our global community.  In order to achieve this, we need to strengthen critical thinking, communication skills, and character development in our curriculum.

Learning is a life-long process, and we need to instill the passion for learning by promoting positive and supportive learning environments from an early stage in the educational process.  We need to reduce and eliminate any institutional, racial, and cultural biases and setbacks; promote safe and welcoming schools for all members; implement and continue anti-bullying, Positive Behavior Support program, and security measures; and support appropriate nutrition and fitness, including athletics and other extracurricular activities. 

We need to recruit and retain quality teachers by supporting them with the tools and resources for excellent teaching, including Professional Learning Communities.  We also need to provide great working conditions.

We need to bridge the gap from school to home to community by encouraging parental involvement at all levels, in classrooms and schools, in district activities, and in the community.  We need to encourage business and community involvement in our schools and vice versa by having effective communication and giving opportunities to each other.

Education for every student is the cornerstone of a prosperous community, and it takes a community to educate every student!