Our Magnet Team

As a proud Lee High School graduate and lifelong member of the Huntsville community, it is an honor to serve in the school and district that helped shape me. I am passionate about creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where students can thrive academically, artistically, and athletically. I believe in building strong relationships, promoting unity, and fostering an atmosphere where students feel valued and empowered to achieve their goals.

I am a Huntsville native who loves serving as the Arts Magnet Assistant Principal at Lee High School and supporting our students in both their artistic and academic pursuits. I’m passionate about literature, creative writing, and helping students grow as thinkers and creators. In my free time, I enjoy reading and spending time with family and friends.

Dillon Lee has been an educator since 2010, holding certifications in history, social science, English, and literature. While his academic background is broad, his career has been defined by a deep focus on the performing arts, serving as a Creative Director of Theatre and as Director of Media Arts. As a filmmaker, Mr. Lee has produced multiple feature-length films—including a 2012 River City Film Festival winner—as well as short films, commercials, and news features.

Nicole Hunkapillar has been a member of the FamiLEE staff and the proud Director of Dance Magnet Ensemble since August of 1993--GO GENERALS!!! She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts. Nicole has taught with several dance studios in the Huntsville, Madison and Decatur areas throughout the years. Nicole has been the choreographer for the Lee High School musicals since 2018 and can't wait to get started on the Musical for this school year 2025-2026! 

I am a Madison native and have been teaching at Lee High School since 2006. Being a teacher here means I have had the privilege of working with students from all walks of life, and I have loved watching them come together to find common ground amid such diversity. I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and training my soon-to-be service dog. Influencing culture and fostering life-long learning are my passions. I look forward to all the new programs our leadership has worked so hard to cultivate this year—it’s shaping up to be our best yet! If you ever need anything, just stop by Room 314, and I’ll be happy to help.

Reginald Pearson was born in Huntsville, AL to Selena Pearson and the late William “Wig” Pearson. Reginald is a graduate of J.O. Johnson High School. He is a 2012 and 2016 graduate of Alabama A&M University where he received a Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Secondary Education. He also holds a certificate in Instructional Leadership from Samford University. He presently serves as the Director of Bands at Lee High School.

My name is Jessie Kisor, and I’m proud to serve as the Creative and Artistic Director of the Lee High Theatre Magnet Program. My wife, Autumn, and I relocated to Huntsville in January 2024 after spending 13 wonderful years in Birmingham, and we’ve quickly come to love this vibrant community. In our free time, we enjoy cooking together—it’s our way of unwinding while experimenting with new flavors and recipes. Being part of the Lee family is truly a dream come true; the support from administration and fellow teachers is inspiring, and I’m constantly energized by the passion and creativity our students bring to each project, production, and competition. I look forward to helping them continue to grow not only as performers, but as confident, expressive individuals.

I am the new theatre technical director and this is my first year at Lee. I was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and then moved up to the Bay Area for school. I moved to Huntsville to be closer to my family who had moved out here. In my free time, I love drinking coffee with my family, reading, working on a puzzle, and spending time going out to eat with friends. I'm so excited that I get to share what I'm most passionate about and look forward to working and creating with the students.

Ashley Daniel is the Director of Vocal Studies at Lee High School and the current President of the Huntsville Choral Directors Association. She is also an active member of the Alabama Vocal Association and NAfME (National Association for Music Education). With over 12 years of teaching experience, Ashley has dedicated her career to shaping young musicians and creating opportunities for students to express their creativity through music. Ashley loves  to highlight students’ creativity and talent, while also advocating year-round for opportunities in performance, composition, and music education. For her, music is more than performance—it is a source of peace, opportunity, and lifelong connection.

Coming from a military family, I experienced a nomadic childhood, traveling to 38 states and 8 countries by the age of 10. These early experiences shaped both my worldview and my love for art and literature. I graduated from David Crockett High School in Austin, Texas, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2006. After briefly running my own business and art studio, I sought a more substantial career path that combined creativity and community. Working with students in the Lee High School Visual Arts Magnet program has been a deeply rewarding experience, allowing me to share my love of art while encouraging the next generation of young artists.

Christian Malone currently serves as the photography magnet instructor. He graduated from Athens High School and then received a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from The University of West Alabama. Malone has been a photographer since 2017 and has built a robust portfolio of portrait photography. He is the owner of The Heir Co. which is a media company that focuses on photography, videography, and graphic design. Malone pushes students to reach their full potential. 

Hello there, I am Ms. Susana Escobar. Welcome to Studio 302, housed in the Visual Arts Conservatory. Teaching within the magnet program here at Lee High School has introduced me to a plethora of motivated young artists who thrive in this specialized environment of creation. It has been a warm welcome into my first year of teaching and sets a high standard for our future students. Recreationally, I am a painter at heart, as I specialize in both oil and watercolor painting. It is my goal for each student to maximize their potential and expose them to similar opportunities where their artistic strengths can shine. Success in this program will go beyond the finished masterpiece and encourage engagement in experimentation, the creative process, and technique building.