Founder

Dr. Lionel Allen, Jr. is an award-winning school leader with over twenty years of experience in education as a Teacher, Assistant Principal, Turnaround Principal, and Chief Academic Officer.  He is an education reform consultant and a frequently invited speaker and panelist.  In 2005, Dr. Allen was selected to become the nation’s first turnaround principal. Under his leadership, the Sherman School of Excellence realized dramatic improvement in the areas of parent engagement, attendance and academic achievement. In just four short years, Sherman went from the second worst performing school in the state of Illinois to a national model of school reform and a catalyst for future turnaround efforts across the country.  Most recently, Dr. Allen led a highly successful network of charter high schools in rewriting the educational narrative for young African American males in Chicago. Currently, he serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Educational Policy Studies and Leadership Coach at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His work has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, CNN, PBS and Edutopia as part of their “Schools That Work” series.  

Let's Work Together

The role of the school leader is complex and oft-changing.  School leaders today have to confront problems and challenges never imagined by previous generations of educational leaders. Let me help you become the best school leader you can be. You deserve it and your school community will greatly benefit from your personal and professional development. Call me today!