Michelle Lee named Ottawa Elementary superintendent

Michelle Lee will be making the move from Dallas City and La Harpe school districts to become the new superintendent of Ottawa Elementary schools.

Lee will succeed Superintendent Cleve Threadgill starting in July.

“I have friends that live in Mendota who spoke very highly of this district and I know the superintendent of La Salle-Peru High School (Steve Wrobleski) and he talks so much about the area,” Lee said. “When I started to investigate it, I thought about how much of a great fit this district seems for me.”

Lee said she’s happy to come to a district where she has to cover a single district: Her current job has her performing mostly administrative work.

“I want to get out in the classrooms,” Lee said. “I want to see what’s going on and I’m excited to do that here, see what the kids are learning and interact with the teachers, staff and administration so we can focus on the academics.”

Ottawa Elementary School Board President Brenden Donahue said Lee brings experience that will help her continue Threadgill’s legacy. Threadgill served as superintendent in the district for 11 years, and worked for almost four decades within the district.

“(Lee) has been a superintendent for many years now and she’ll transition to our district to bring that same experience,” Donahue said.

Lee said among all the deciding factors on coming to Ottawa was the Starved Rock region and all its scenery, and the fact Ottawa Elementary has a cohesive board.

“They work well together,” Lee said. “I’m excited to get to know them and I’m really just excited to be here. I’m excited to see what I can bring to Ottawa Elementary Schools.”