Dr. Tia Lites serves as the Director of Student Excellence & Belonging for METCO, Inc. A former
secondary school principal, she brings extensive school leadership experience across both charter
schools and Boston Public Schools. During her tenure, she notably led the only secondary middle
school in Boston intentionally designed around the Historically Black College and University
(HBCU) experience, cultivating a college-going culture centered on academic excellence, cultural
identity, empowerment, and student success. In addition to her School Leadership, Tia is an Adjunct
Professor, specializing in Race, Equity, and Trauma Informed Teaching. In May of 2024, Tia was one of the
three inaugural 2024 A Beautiful Resistance Award for Excellence in Teaching & Leadership Award recipients. This award was given through the esteemed, The Teachers Lounge, who prioritize excellence in teaching and learning for BIPOC Teachers, Administrators and students.

A proud Newton Public Schools graduate (Class of 2001) and former METCO student, Dr. Tia Lites is an
accomplished educator, scholar, and educational leader with extensive experience advancing academic
excellence, culturally responsive practices, and equitable opportunities for students. A former secondary
school principal, she brings school leadership experience across both charter schools and Boston Public
Schools. Throughout her career, she has championed innovative approaches to teaching and learning,
student-centered programming, and educational environments that affirm cultural identity while creating
meaningful pathways toward academic and personal success.

Dr. Lites earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and Marketing from Johnson C. Smith University, where she attended as a Presidential Scholar and was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Mu National
Honor Society. She later earned a Master of Business Management from Cambridge College, a Master of
Education from Lesley University, and her Doctorate in Education in 2020. Her doctoral research examined
the positive educational outcomes of Black students in urban schools led by Black principals and vice
principals, further strengthening her expertise in Culturally Responsive School Leadership and her
commitment to transforming educational experiences for historically underserved students.

Beyond school leadership, Dr. Lites has contributed her expertise to several statewide and community
initiatives, including the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Educator
Preparation Advisory Council and Influence 100, a statewide initiative focused on developing and supporting a more diverse pipeline of educational leaders in Massachusetts. She has also served on the Think Advisory Council and DEI Board Council through Massachusetts General Hospital and participated in the Anna Faith Jones & Frieda Garcia Women of Color Leadership Circle. A 2022, 2023, and 2024 SXSW presenter and mentor, Dr. Lites has presented nationally on culturally proactive school leadership and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. Her work continues to center academic advancement, educational innovation, student empowerment, and the creation of transformative opportunities for young people and the communities they represent.