Amber Lee-Black was always destined for a career in physical education.

"I've had a passion for sports and a love for children for as long as I can remember," she shares.

An athlete at her core, Amber excelled in high school sports, participating in basketball and multiple track events, including the triple jump, in which she qualified for the Illinois State Championships. However, she chose to attend her prom instead of State - a decision she now reflects upon with a mix of regret and understanding of her own somewhat misguided youthful priorities.

“I just really wanted to go to prom, despite all the incredibly hard work I had put into track,” she mused. “That was a bad decision, but we don't always make the best decisions when we’re young.”

Lee-Black graduated from Auburn High School in Rockford despite the challenges of becoming a mother during her senior year. She persevered, driven by a strong sense of responsibility and the somewhat mixed support of her parents. Her father, a minister, provided for the family and maintained high expectations.

“I listened to every word he said,” Amber recalls. “What he said wasn’t always easy for me to hear, but looking back, I know he knew exactly what he wanted for me and from me. He always had a plan.”

Her mother, though initially disappointed in her teen pregnancy, staunchly supported her daughter, insisting, "you WILL graduate from high school, and that is for sure."

"I cannot say enough about what a positive influence my mother has been on me," says Lee-Black. "She has been the driving force behind everything that I have done. She supported me relentlessly. She has always known what I was capable of even when I couldn't see it myself."

Sports continued to play a crucial role in Amber's life, providing stability and focus as she balanced the demands of motherhood and school. She not only graduated from high school but went on to earn Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Rockford College, Northern Illinois University and Olivet Nazarene University, respectively.

After five years of teaching Physical Education, her ambition to make a broader impact and make a bigger difference led her to seek a role in administration.

“I knew that if I became a principal, I could support many hundreds of students by leading a team of dedicated educators, rather than just leading classrooms of students," she explains.

Her participation in the RPS/NIU Principal Residency program, which includes free tuition and a paid internship while getting hands-on experience as a Dean, solidified her leadership skills and deepened her commitment to educational excellence.

“One of the best things about the Principal Residency is how it exposes you to what leading in education really means - what it is really like,” she said. “And, a nice bonus is you get super close to your cohorts. I’m still in touch with mine. We were just group chatting today, trying to help a friend solve a problem locating tutors. Our Principal Residency cohort will always be friends.”

“Now, as an assistant principal,” she said, ”I am living my own dream. My favorite part of my job is seeing the kids come in as immature Freshman and leave as young, more confident, developing adults. I help them when they struggle and celebrate with them when they win. They know what is in my heart - always - even when I have to apply discipline. It’s always about helping them be their best. Always.”