CARLISLE — Sam Lee always envisioned returning to the place where her educational journey began.
That opportunity has arrived.
Carlisle High School has named the 1987 graduate its new assistant principal and athletic director, replacing John Augustine, who recently accepted the athletic director position at Wayne High School. The appointment fulfills a longtime professional goal for Lee after a career that included teaching, administration and experiences far beyond the classroom.
“My ultimate dream was to come back here and be an administrator at Carlisle,” Lee said. “This position opened up, and I thought, ‘Yeah, this would be perfect.’”
Lee’s path back home was anything but conventional.
After earning a communications degree from Morehead State University, she moved to Los Angeles with ambitions of writing television shows. The high cost of living eventually brought her back to Ohio, where she worked in the banking industry before realizing something was missing.
“I just felt like I didn’t have a purpose,” Lee said.
A conversation with longtime friend and fellow Carlisle graduate Dan Turner changed the course of her career. Turner encouraged Lee to pursue teaching, advice that echoed what her mother had urged years earlier.
“I should have listened to my mother,” Lee said. “She tried to get me to get my teaching license when I was at Morehead.”
Lee began substitute teaching before accepting a long-term classroom assignment that led to a full-time opportunity. She earned an alternative teaching license, completed a master’s degree in educational leadership from Antioch McGregor Midwest and spent nearly 11 years teaching special education before another 11 years as an English teacher at Carlisle.
She left Carlisle two years ago to become an assistant principal at Greenville, gaining administrative experience while never losing sight of her goal of returning home.
Lee also worked closely with Augustine while he directed Carlisle’s athletic department, helping with various responsibilities and developing a passion for athletic administration.
“I helped John a lot while he was here,” Lee said. “I loved every minute of it and learned a lot. I kind of wanted to come back and work with him, but he’s moving on to a great opportunity.”
Now, Lee steps into the role herself, overseeing Carlisle’s athletic programs while also serving as assistant principal.
Her priorities include strengthening the department’s traditions, increasing student participation and celebrating both current and former athletes.
“I want to build on traditions from the past,” Lee said. “I want to build new traditions. I want to make sure we’re recognizing all of our athletes and trying to get more kids involved.”
Lee also hopes to expand Carlisle’s Hall of Fame festivities and keep alumni connected to the school, saying those relationships help strengthen the community and inspire future generations of student-athletes.
“This school and community have always held a special place in my heart,” Lee said. “I really want to continue the excellence, the pride and the tradition. We want to continue building and trying to make Carlisle the best around.”
