About Rhiannon McElwee
A Visionary Leader Rooted in Experience, Joy, and Community
With a career grounded in both passion and practice, Rhiannon McElwee has dedicated her professional life to building thriving school communities where children flourish—academically, socially, and emotionally. As an award-winning school leader and curriculum expert, she has spent more than two decades helping schools become more joyful, inclusive, and effective places for learning and growth.
From the classroom to the front office, Rhiannon brings a rare combination of strategic insight and deep human connection. Her work is guided by a clear educational philosophy: that every child deserves not just to be taught, but to be known, understood, and inspired. That every educator deserves to work in an environment where collaboration, trust, and shared purpose are the norm. And that every family deserves a school that feels like a true partner in their child’s development.
At the core of Rhiannon’s leadership is a commitment to cultivating cultures of joy, love, and academic excellence. Whether designing systems to support instructional effectiveness, leading professional development rooted in best practice, or helping educators navigate the nuances of a progressive curriculum, Rhiannon understands that successful schools run on strong relationships, clear vision, and intentional structures.
As a strategic partner, they have a proven ability to build and refine systems that support student success without sacrificing the heart of a school. Known for being a thoughtful and reflective collaborator, Rhiannon works side by side with faculty, families, and administrative teams to ensure the school’s mission is felt in every classroom and every interaction. Colleagues often cite her ability to connect vision to implementation and to listen deeply while moving work forward with integrity and clarity.
Much of Rhiannon’s impact has been in progressive schools where creativity, compassion, and academic rigor go hand in hand. With a strong background in early childhood and elementary education, she brings a deep understanding of how children learn—and how teachers can create environments that spark curiosity and foster resilience. Her leadership is infused with an understanding that social emotional learning isn’t an add-on, but the very foundation of academic success.
Under Rhiannon’s guidance, schools have adopted award-winning curriculum models and built systems to support differentiated learning, project-based instruction, and inclusive classroom practices. Just as importantly, she leads with an unwavering belief that all voices matter—and that the most vibrant school communities are those that recognize, celebrate, and amplify the unique contributions of every member.
Equally adept at managing the “time, talent, and treasure” that fuel a successful school, Rhiannon understands that operational excellence supports educational excellence. She brings the same thoughtfulness to resource planning, faculty development, and stakeholder communication as she does to student learning. This balanced approach helps schools remain not just mission-driven, but also sustainable and responsive to the needs of families and staff alike.
Looking ahead, Rhiannon remains passionate about leading in schools that are bold enough to dream big and grounded enough to do the work required to make those dreams a reality. She believes deeply in the power of education to transform lives—and in the responsibility of educators to model empathy, equity, and lifelong learning.
At a time when school communities are being asked to do more than ever, Rhiannon continues to offer steady, visionary leadership rooted in love for children and belief in people. Her approach is practical but never perfunctory; rigorous but always relational. And her commitment to whole-child education—where every child is seen, heard, challenged, and celebrated—remains the driving force behind everything she does.
Professional Development & Leadership Training
- NAIS Fellowship for Aspiring School Heads Institute, 2023-2024 cohort
- Served on decennial Accreditation Team for The Peck School, NJ, 2023
- Grading Reform without Tears, Dr Douglas Reeves, Rocket PD, 2023
- Rethinking Teacher Supervision, Coaching, and Evaluation, Kim Marshall, September 2022-May 2023
- Decolonizing your Curriculum and Pedagogy, Eastern Educational Resource Collaborative, October 2022
- Cultures of Thinking in Action Micro Practicum, Project Zero, March 2022
- Equity Literacy Institute, Racial Equity literacy Facilitator training February, 2021
- Student Centered Scheduling, 5 day course, ISM, March 2021
- Racial Literacy Institute, Lion’s Story online course, 2020
- Oversaw Teaching and Learning Section of decennial accreditation, 2019
- White Privilege Conference, Cedar Rapids, April 2019
- NYSAIS Designing in-house PD, April 2019
- NJAIS Bias Among the Well-Intentioned: How lt Affects the Hiring Process, November 2018
- CARLE (Critical Analysis of Race in Learning and Education) Institute participant, July 2018
- Undoing Racism, May 2018
- Attended NYSAIS Diversity Conference 2017, 2018, 2019
- Attended NAIS Annual Conference, Baltimore, 2017
- Served on decennial Accreditation Team for The Peddie School, NJ, 2016
- Presenter at NJAIS Biennial Conference 2016 (Healthy Minds, Healthy Schools and Understanding Minds)
- NYSA/S Advanced Service Learning Institute, Carey Institute, Cathy Berger Kaye, July 2016
- Served on NJAIS Professional Development Committee 2015-2016
- Successfully completed the NJAIS Leadership Institute 2015-2016
- Navigating Difficult Conversations in the Classroom, Facing History, February 2016
- Served on NJAIS accreditation team, October 2015
- Race and Membership in US History, 5 day Facing History seminar, August 2014
- Applied and was awarded $10,000 Facing History In-Depth Program Grant, May 2014
- C-Span Summer Educators’ Conference, July 2013
Personal Interests & Community Engagement
I am an avid runner; I love to cook (not so good at baking); attend live music; spend time with my husband of 17 years and see the world through the eyes of my joyful 2nd grader; we love to travel and have visited places as far flung as Australia as a result of winning a BBC game show back in 2003! Lesley Ellis School fosters an environment of self-discovery, kindness and belonging through our engaging and challenging curriculum, as well as our anti-bias approach. Our students are inquisitive and inspired learners, prepared for every step of their educational journey.
Lesley Ellis School
Grades Preschool – Grade 8
34 Winter St., Arlington, MA 02474
(781) 641-5987
To learn more about Lesley Ellis School please click on this link: https://bostonparentspaper.com/schools/massachusetts/arlington/lesley-ellis-school/
Our Mission
Lesley Ellis School fosters an environment of self-discovery, kindness and belonging through our engaging and challenging curriculum, as well as our anti-bias approach. Our students are inquisitive and inspired learners, prepared for every step of their educational journey.
About Leaders in Education
Leaders in Education is a special profile series from Boston Parent, highlighting the vision, values, and leadership of heads of schools and key administrators across Greater Boston and the New England area. Through these features, we aim to give the community a deeper understanding of the people shaping children’s educational experiences.
