The principal of Southeast Elementary Academy, Michelle Pierre-Farid was a member of the New Leaders for New Schools cohort in 2003–04. She was also the former principal for Tyler Elementary School.

Prior to Pierre-Farid's arrival, Tyler was one of the lowest-performing schools in Washington, DC, and its Capitol Hill community had essentially abandoned the school. Pierre-Farid led the school to dramatic improvements in a few years; reading achievement scores increased by 40 percentage points, over 50 percent of the special education population was considered proficient, and math achievement increased by 20 percentage points. Her transformation of Tyler was noted by the district and other important constituencies in the city.

In November 2006, Tyler was selected to be part of DC Voice’s “Out-of-the-Box: Site Visits to Schools that Work” series, which provided opportunities for parents and community members to see high-performing, high-poverty schools.

Pierre-Farid’s work has been highlighted in the Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, the Hill Rag, and on the Education Channel. It is her strong belief that education is of foremost importance “because it does not only change a life but a community.”

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University and master’s degrees from Towson University and Trinity University.