Cynthia Lee

Principal, Empire High School, Vail Unified School District

Age: 36

Community involvement: Arizona Department of Education Laptop Initiative; U.S. Department of Education Technology Department, workgroup member; North Central Accreditation, chair; 21st Century Consortium; Women's Professional Rodeo Association; Marana Junior Rodeo Association

Best advice you've received: Trust yourself.

Describe yourself with one word: philosophical

Proudest professional accomplishment: the culture that has been established at Empire High School

A word from the nominator: "Cindy has a genuine nature and an honest, straightforward approach that fosters tremendous loyalty from her staff and students. . . . Mike Carson, a math and art teacher at Empire, stated with a smile, 'I'd follow Cindy anywhere. If she were principal in Hell, I'd go just to make her pancakes.'" - Jim Coulter, president, Vail Unified School District Governing Board