After over 20 years at Townsend Harris, Assistant Principal of Organization (APO) Ellen Fee has retired. In an email to the school on March 10, Ms. Fee said that “this feels like the right time” to step back “for both the school and myself.” 

Ms. Fee’s role as APO will be taken over by Alanna Rice, who has served as  Assistant Principal for Instructional Support since 2024. In an email sent to school faculty, Principal Brian Condon wrote, “You will, from time to time, see Ms. Fee in the building as she provides some support to Ms. Rice during this transition period.” 

Regarding the decision to retire midyear, Ms. Fee acknowledged that the timing might seem “strange.” She said she has been eligible to retire for several years, “but I’ve continued working because I felt I still had meaningful contributions to make to our administrative team and school community.”  

But in the past few months, she said, “I’ve wanted to work a bit less, and invest more time in my family and in volunteer work that’s important to me.” She added that stepping back in now “feels like a win-win” for both her and the school because “it worked out well financially for the school and allows me more time outside of work.”

“It’s really big shoes to fill. It really is,” said Mr. Rice, on taking over as APO. “Ms. Fee was loved by everyone here. Her legacy is how she supported the student community, her dedication to MSA and to students of different backgrounds [to ensure] they all felt really included in the school.”

Ms. Rice said the transition process so far has been “very smooth” due to support from Mr. Condon and Ms. Fee. She said, “Ms. Fee and I have always been really close, so I can call her and I can ask her anything at any time, and I feel really, really supported moving in here… she’s been showing me the ropes of everything that I’ll have to do.” 

Throughout her tenure, Ms. Fee has served many roles in the school building, ranging from mathematics teacher and Festival of Nations (FON) coordinator to Acting Principal when Mr. Condon went on medical leave two years ago. 

“One of my favorite seasons is the Festival of Nations,” she said. “There’s something incredibly special about watching our students take the stage and share pieces of who they are—their cultures, their stories, their music, and their pride. It’s a reminder of how unique and connected our community is, and it’s always a highlight of the year for me.”

Mr. Condon said that during the switch from the school’s longstanding partnership with Queens College to St. John’s University last year, Ms. Fee was “extremely helpful” due to her “institutional knowledge” and “hardworking” personality.

Junior Uma Hardeo, the Student Union Treasurer and Bollywood FON leader, said,  “[Working with Ms. Fee] showed me just how much she cares about students and how dedicated she is to strengthening student life at Townsend.” Uma described Ms. Fee as always listening to students and giving everyone her time and focus. 

In addition to advising FON, Ms. Fee also advised clubs such as the Muslim Student Association (MSA), Green Team, and Seekers. She frequently worked with them and other clubs throughout her time to plan special events. 

Senior Ananna Ali, president of MSA, said that Ms. Fee’s kindness is exemplified through the various pets in her office, which included animals like a hedgehog, bearded dragon, and a paraplegic cat named Mel rescued by students on Melbourne Avenue. Ananna said Ms. Fee is “always taking in animals, fostering them, taking care of them, and helping ones that have been harmed or abused.”

Ananna said that one thing that set Ms. Fee apart was how often she supported Ananna and other members of MSA, especially in the face of hardship. Ananna said “other staff members can be funny or kind, but no one does it like Ms. Fee.”

Senior Abraham Fashakin, President of the Black Excellence Club, felt similarly about Ms. Fee’s unique qualities. Abraham has worked closely with Ms. Fee planning events for the club, and said that at times she helped them solve problems that other staff and students couldn’t. For example, helping the club find a soul food restaurant for their Black History Month event. “She’s a very hardworking and intelligent and very, very, very kind person,” he said.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Daniel Kim

Former Assistant Principal of Organization Ellen Fee (center) standing next to other administrators at this school year's ARISTA ceremony in December.

Students like Abraham and Ananna were especially sad to see Ms. Fee leave. Upon learning of Ms. Fee’s retirement, Abraham said, “[we] definitely [felt] a lot of a shock and really [very] sad. I remember the day that Ms. Fee left the office and we just got there on Monday and she was just not there…All of the stuff that she had pinned [was there] for so long that the white outline of the frames were still there. It just made the room feel really empty and off.”

Ananna said although she will miss being “able to see her every day… I also think this transition is good and will make things smoother over time. She’s going to be missed a lot.”

Uma also said that Ms. Fee’s transition into retirement is bittersweet. Uma said Ms. Fee “has been a strong administrator and a driving force behind student engagement, and her presence will certainly be missed. At the same time, she absolutely deserves the opportunity to rest and take on a lighter workload.”

Ms. Fee’s impact has also extended outside the walls of THHS. Alumni that spoke to The Classic spoke on how Ms. Fee has been involved in their lives while not being a student and what her involvement means to them. 

Townsend Harris alumna Rabtah Jinan, who previously served as president of the Muslim Student Association in 2023-2024, first got to know Ms. Fee while taking swim lessons with her as a child.  Rabtah said one of her earliest memories with Ms. Fee was at a swimming lesson when she “was seven years old, standing on the diving block for the first time,” where Ms. Fee offered a safety net and calm words of encouragement. Rabtah said, “Ever since then, [Ms. Fee] was the steady presence I could count on, and any student she encounters is lucky to have that same unwavering support and guidance.”

“I believe that Townsend Harris won’t be complete without Ms. Fee,” said Toluwanimi Oyeleye, who graduated in 2025. Tolu served as president of Seekers, which Ms. Fee also advised. “Students who got to know her personally, like myself, were truly privileged to have someone like her in their corner. I have no idea how I would’ve gotten through my past four years at Townsend Harris without such a kind person.” 

“She wasn’t like your typical assistant principal,” Tolu said. “To me, she was my friend, who I could talk to about anything and always know that I have a safe place in Townsend Harris.” 

Alumna Kelly McCann, who graduated in 2008, had Ms Fee as her math teacher and one of her track coaches. Ms. McCann said Ms. Fee “always had a smile on her face and words of encouragement. She was a great cheerleader.”

Ms.McCann said Ms. Fee, “stands out in my memory as warm and loving, and as one of the most reliable and influential adults I got to know at Townsend, and I’ll never forget her.” 

Citing the Ephebic Oath, Rabtah said, “[Ms. Fee] is absolutely leaving the community greater than she found it.” 

Currently Ms. Fee is involved with two nonprofit organizations and teaches swimming lessons, which she said she is excited to spend more time doing. Now that she is retired, Ms. Fee said she “looks forward to being more present in my own neighborhood, particularly by supporting those who are new to New York City.”