Three Lee University graduates have been named principals of Cleveland City Schools. Donald Benton will lead E.L. Ross Elementary School, Dr. Alicia Kahrs will serve at Arnold Memorial School, and Dr. Joe Parker will head Blythe-Bower Elementary School, effective this fall.
 
“All of us in the college of education were thrilled when we saw the announcement,” said Dr. Bill Estes, dean of Lee’s Helen DeVos College of Education. “Cleveland City Schools is our official ‘Primary Partner’ within Tennessee’s Department of Education teacher pipeline. Seeing our alumni move into the key leadership positions in a K-12 setting is both gratifying and a challenge to keep preparing the best educators for all levels and positions in local education agencies (LEAs).”  

Benton, a 2005 and 2009 graduate of Lee University, is currently assistant principal at Cleveland High School. He joined Cleveland City Schools in 2021, serving previously as operations coordinator and BLADE (Blended Learning and Digital Enhancement) facilitator. Before that, he was the band director at Walker Valley High School, leading more than 200 students. Benton holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s in educational leadership from Lee.
 
“When I arrived at Lee University in 2002, I quickly fell in love with this institution,” said Benton. “The opportunities I experienced at Lee shaped me into the administrator I am today. My wife, Sarah, and I knew that Cleveland was the place to build our family and invest in the community. I am honored to serve as principal of E.L. Ross and to work alongside some of the best educators in the city.”
 

Kahrs, a 2004 graduate of Lee, is currently assistant principal at Arnold Memorial Elementary. She has also worked as a high school science teacher, instructional coach, special education consultant, and district well-being coordinator.
 
“One of the highlights of my time at Lee University was the science program, especially classes taught by Dr. Michael Freake,” said Kahrs. “His passion for biology and the environment sparked a lasting appreciation for the natural world. This is a full-circle moment, and I’m grateful to lead in a way that reflects the dedication and excellence I experienced as a student.”
 

Parker earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, an educational specialist degree in leadership, and a doctorate in professional praxis, all from Lee. He has been with Cleveland City Schools since 2024 and currently serves as assistant principal at Blythe-Bower Elementary. He has also held leadership roles including summer school director, math teacher leader, and Beta Club sponsor and was named Teacher of the Year in 2020.
 
“For a kid who grew up in a military family, Lee is the closest thing I have to a hometown,” said Parker. “There’s not a piece of me that hasn’t been shaped by people at Lee. As principal, my goal is to foster that same sense of community, family, and purpose for our students and staff at Blythe-Bower.”
 
“We are proud to see three of our alumni step into principal roles,” said Dr. Shane Brown, director of Teacher Education at Lee. “Their leadership, dedication to students, and commitment to excellence reflect the mission of our program, and we celebrate the impact they are making in their schools and communities.”
 
For more information about Lee University’s Helen DeVos College of Education, visit leeuniversity.edu/academics/education.