Hearst Elementary School
Dr. Elke Chen began her teaching career as a special education teacher at Ballou Senior High School in 2003. Since then, she has served as an assistant principal, educational consultant, instructional coach, and trainer to help improve the practices of adults who work with youth in the DC area. Most recently, she has been the Assistant Principal at Hearst since 2020.
A nominee for the Sue Lehmann National Award for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Chen has also served as a tutor, university instructor, and classroom teacher. These roles have seen her working directly with middle school, high school, and college-aged youth in DCPS and the University of Maryland, respectively.
Dr. Chen graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy from the University of Maryland and holds a master's in Special Education from George Washington. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies and Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Maryland. Dr. Chen is also a proud DCPS parent.