Welcome, Mr. Kojo Sheppard, New Lincolnwood Assistant Principal

Dear Lincolnwood Community,

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the School Board approved the appointment of Kojo Sheppard as our new Assistant Principal. Starting July 1, he will join the Lincolnwood staff as my co-leader, sharing the work of advancing our school priorities for student and staff growth and well being.

Among a group of highly qualified applicants, our hiring team (including six Lincolnwood staff members, a parent representative, and Director of Schools Management Dr. Charmekia McCoy) unanimously agreed that Mr. Sheppard stood out as an extraordinary candidate with a mix of experience and skills that match Lincolnwood’s needs. The final stage in the process included an interview with Superintendent Dr. Turner and the cabinet team.

The 2026-27 school year will be an exciting year for Lincolnwood as we welcome new students at all grade levels, expand our commitment to an inclusive environment in which every student is growing as a reader, writer, and mathematician, and support new and returning staff in building strong collaborative teams. Mr. Sheppard’s leadership journey has uniquely positioned him to embrace the opportunities and tackle the challenges inherent in this moment. In the role of Assistant Principal, I feel confident that he will strengthen our ability to support our staff in serving the needs of our students with disabilities in our General Education and STEP programs, engaging in authentic collaboration to ensure the academic growth and engagement of every student, and fostering a schoolwide culture of inclusion and belonging.

Mr. Sheppard began his career in education as a paraprofessional, became a special education teacher, and then moved into roles as a building leader and special education administrator. He also worked as an equity transformation specialist, leading school teams across the country (including at ETHS). 

Attached, please find Mr. Sheppard’s photo and biography (PDF) with more information about his background. In these final weeks of school, Mr. Sheppard will come for an informal visit to meet staff and students and I will reach out with more information about an official meet and greet for parents and caregivers.

Thank you for joining me in welcoming and congratulating the new Lincolnwood Assistant Principal, Mr. Kojo Sheppard. 

In partnership,

Laura Pinsof
Principal