<body><div>Special education English teacher and CHS graduate Saniya Lee rekindled their connection with their old school when they first took a job as a long-term substitute teacher, then transitioned into full-time teaching. As a new teacher, Lee’s younger age led to some unexpected encounters upon their return to the school. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0XJz8s_1H2gl1Iv00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0XJz8s_1H2gl1Iv00" width="1501" height="2001" ><figcaption>Saniya Lee dines at bookstore restaurant Busboys and Poets, one of their favorite locations, on June 14, 2026. Photo used with permission of Zoe Collin.</figcaption></figure>“One of the first days I was at Chantilly subbing, someone from behind was like, ‘Do you have a pass?’” Lee said. “I turned around and I was like, ‘I’m a teacher.’”Having planned to study international relations as a college student, Lee did not originally consider a full-time career in teaching. However, after experiencing their college classes, they felt a craving for directly working with people. While switching majors to global studies, they took literature classes, having always held on to their love for English. Combined with a desire to support students with diverse learning needs, the decision to teach special education English was not too difficult. “This feels right to me,” Lee said. “I really love English as a content area. I think there’s a lot of opportunity for students to explore and understand the world on a deeper level through literature.”Lee described reentering the school environment as a teacher as a surreal experience that caused them to appreciate the profession a lot more. They also noted that many of their former teachers still teach their respective courses at CHS. “It definitely says something about the school, that there are so many of my old teachers who are still here,” Lee said. “That means Chantilly is a good environment to work in, [somewhere] you can really plant roots in.” As for their own vision for the future, Lee mentioned a consideration for living overseas, with possible destinations including Australia, New Zealand and European countries. “Whether it’s teaching at international schools, teaching English or whatever else, I want to explore that for sure,” Lee said. “How I ended up here was truly not anything I could have possibly imagined. We can have certain plans or goals, but you never know what opportunities will be presented to you.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1PT4fp_1H2gl1Iv00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1PT4fp_1H2gl1Iv00" width="1410" height="2001" ><figcaption>Dressed in a traditional Mongolian deel, Saniya Lee stands with horses in the Hulunbuir grasslands in Inner Mongolia on July 19, 2026. Photo used with permission of Grace Zhang.</figcaption></figure>Outside of their career, Lee enjoys various activities, such as reading fantasy books, watching TV shows and traveling. Having grown up in Northern Virginia in a small academic bubble, Lee mentioned that connecting with people of various backgrounds opened their eyes to the scope of the world.“I have always identified myself as a hobbyist, because I just have a lot of things that I like to do,” Lee said. “I’m always actively seeking out new activities or different hobbies.”Lee mentioned the goal of integrating a flexible mindset into their teaching philosophy. Having been a student recently themselves, they expressed a belief in their ability to share beneficial viewpoints with their students.“I want everyone to be open to different kinds of growth,” Lee said. “Whatever setbacks or obstacles that young people face, they are all going to help propel them forward. It hasn’t been too long since I’ve come from that period of time, so I felt like I could bring some of that perspective here and hopefully be able to guide my students.”</div></body>

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Special education English teacher and CHS graduate Saniya Lee rekindled their connection with their old school when they first took a job as a long-term substitute teacher, then transitioned into full-time teaching. As a new teacher, Lee’s younger age led to some unexpected encounters upon their return to the school.

Lee returns to high school, this time as teacher

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Special education English teacher and CHS graduate Saniya Lee rekindled their connection with their old school when they first took a job as a long-term su

Lee returns to high school, this time as teacher

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