Teresa Harris is proud and thrilled to be the new Principal at Highland Elementary School in the Riverview Gardens School District. She has 18 years of experience in education. In her previous role at Normandy Schools Collaborative, she held various positions including Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean, and Instructional Coach. Before that, she worked as an educator with St. Louis Public Schools for 12 years. During that time, she served as a teacher and an instructional coach, working with low-performing schools to help improve student outcomes. She was also recognized as an excellent teacher in 2009 and awarded Teacher of the Year in 2014.  She has primarily worked at the elementary level and enjoys working with elementary-aged students, considering it the best job in the world.

Teresa is single with no children, but she raised her brother due to unforeseen circumstances. She is the middle child among her six siblings and cherishes spending time with her family. She attends Living the Word Church in Collinsville, Illinois, where David Hawkins is the pastor. Teresa is a member of the Covenant Choir and regularly attends Bible Study.

She earned her BS in Business Administration from McKendree University, her M.Ed from Lindenwood University, and her M.Ed in Educational Leadership from UMSL. As a principal, Teresa's approach is rooted in strong values and a belief in striving for excellence.  Her ultimate goal is to ensure students receive the highest quality education possible. She fosters a supportive and nurturing environment that values each individual, aiming to empower students and staff to excel in their respective roles. Teresa consciously tries to prioritize effective instruction while cultivating a positive and collaborative atmosphere among teachers. Additionally, she actively involves families, teachers, and community members in important school decisions, encouraging shared responsibility and ownership within the community.