Dr.AK Lee-Perera on Clubhouse

Bio

National Association of School Superintendents (NASS) 2015 Superintendent of the Year

After 26-plus years of public service in K12 education, Dr. A. Katrise Lee-Perera was appointed as Superintendent of the Gresham-Barlow School District in Gresham, Oregon in 2017. Dr. Perera served in both Virginia and Texas districts prior to serving in Oregon – she served as a corporate executive with a national publishing company as their National Director for Urban Markets 2015-2017; superintendent of Isle of Wight County Schools in Smithfield, Virginia from 2011- 2015. Prior to her superintendent's work, Dr. Perera served as a school improvement area superintendent in the Houston Independent School District (2010-2011) and as a teacher, principal, and district-level administrator for Henrico County Public Schools (2000-2010) in Richmond, Virginia. Her career in K12 education began in 1994 in the Charlottesville City Public School in Charlottesville, Virginia as a teacher.

Dr. Perera has been a strong advocate for equity, inclusion, access, and opportunities for all students. She earned her doctorate in education leadership and policy study from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (aka-Virginia Tech) in May 2014. She completed the National Superintendent Certification Program in 2016 through the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and was tapped in 2019 to serve alongside select education leaders on the National Women's Leadership Consortium. Dr. Perera was recognized for her leadership and equity work by her peers in 2015, when she was named the Superintendent of the Year by the National Association of School Superintendents (NASS). She is an active member of state and national professional organizations where she serves as an advisor, in elected leadership roles, on the governors Reopening & Racial Justice Councils,, as a professional learning facilitator/mentor, as a frequent presenter during the state/national conferences, and has composed a number of articles for professional magazines.