Folasade Adekunle
Chicago,USA
Summary
Dynamic School Leader with extensive experience in educational leadership and school transformation. Expertise in design thinking to enhance organizational goals, foster academic achievement, and develop staff capabilities. Proven track record of improving student performance and cultivating positive school culture through strategic initiatives. Strong leadership and communication skills driving operational efficiency and school improvement.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal
Sayre Language Academy
07.2016 - Current
- Led a staff of 60 educators by enacting a transformative vision that changed a stagnant school into a collaborative, learning organization.
- 76% of staff (2025) strongly agree/agree “Makes clear to the staff the leadership’s expectations for meeting instructional goals.
- 80% of staff (2025) strongly agree/agree “Presses teachers to implement what they have learned in professional development..”
- 81% of staff (2021) strongly agree/agree the principal “Has provided me with the support I need to improve my teaching.”
- Expanded the structures, membership and functions of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT)
- Doubled the membership of the ILT to reflect equitable representation of grade level, content areas and services
- Provided professional cycles of development that expanded the knowledge and skill sets
- Enacted instructional shifts in Reading and Math that increased student achievement levels on the IAR by 10% from 2024-2025.
- Developed a culture of collaboration between teachers through restructuring of grade level team meeting structures
- Developed system that trained and mentored teacher-leaders to take on mini cycles of improvement within the school.
- Identified teachers with leadership aspirations and prepared them to lead teams of teachers
- Developed a professional learning plan for each instructional leader/coach that developed ability to coach, collect data, engage in facilitative conversations and attend to adult learning goals.
- Enacted instructional shifts in Reading and Math despite challenges in remote learning and school closures.
- Provided coaching supports for 80% of teacher by a teacher leader.
- Expanded structures to support teacher planning time and professional learning during the school day.
- 436: 48.1% Latinx, 38.3% African American, 0.5% Asian, 9.8% White, 14% Diverse Learners, 15.7% English Learners, 66.8% Low Income
Resident Principal
Walt Disney Magnet School
07.2015 - 06.2016
- Enhanced professional learning communities by transforming teacher team meetings.
- Strengthened teacher capacity to address practice problems through data cycles.
- Developed classroom walkthrough protocols to assess instructional strengths and challenges.
- Conducted weekly formal and informal evaluations to improve teaching practices.
- Delivered timely feedback to teachers, fostering continuous improvement in instruction.
- Implemented performance tasks for grades 5-8, promoting critical thinking and career awareness.
Instructional Coach
Academy for Urban School Leadership
08.2013 - 07.2015
- Developed teachers in their 1st and 2nd years by providing classroom management and instructional coaching for Academy for Urban School Leadership Network Schools
- Conducted weekly observations to gather data on teacher skill and will during instruction
- Collaborated with school administrators to address areas of concern and plan for support
- Initiated data driven and strategic feedback to teachers and administration to support growth in teacher practice
- Created and implemented support for implementation of Next Generation Science Standards and model-based inquiry in science classrooms
- Facilitated collaborative planning session among teachers and contributed to the creation of professional learning communities
- Led professional development on classroom management, planning and instructional content for network schools
- Network Turnaround Schools (Dewey, Bradwell, McNair, Lewis)
Middle School Teacher
Northwest Middle School
08.2005 - 06.2013
- Achieved National Board Certification, enhancing expertise in literacy and social sciences.
- Led school improvement initiatives, providing professional development and enrichment programming.
- Collaborated with colleagues to design integrated Social Studies and English Language Arts units.
- Secured grants to enrich student experiences and received multiple educator awards.
- Served a diverse student population, including 46% English Learners and 89% low-income.
Education
Doctor of Education - Urban Education Leadership
University of Illinois at Chicago
05.2020
Master of Education - Educational Psychology
University of Illinois at Chicago
06.2010
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and History
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL06.2005
Skills
- Verbal and written communication
- Training and mentoring
- Staff development
- School community relations
- Strategic leadership
- Curriculum development
- Instructional leadership
- Organizational management
- Community engagement
Accomplishments
- Mallott Fellowship 2023- 2025
- District-level opportunity with a multi-element learning experience anchored in monthly Principal Learning Labs complemented by individualized, high-dose leadership coaching.
- Black Principals Network- The Leadership Collaborative Fellow 2023
- Leadership development training supported by the Surge Institute that provided coaching and professional learning at the national level.
- Chicago Principal Fellow 2021-2022
- District opportunity to provide executive coaching and leadership development with a focus on district-level policy development.
- Chicago Public Education Fund Design Challenge Winner 2022
- Program design challenge that awards winning school with program implementation consultation and $10,000 award.
- Chicago Fund PLC Participant 2019
- District-led leadership development around curriculum leadership and design.
- National Board Certification Area of concentration, 2012: Early Adolescence/ Young Adult Social Studies-History
- Dolores Kohl Teacher of the Year Recipient Received Kohl Teacher Award November 2012
- Recognized for exceptional teaching in the middle school grades.
- Rochelle Lee Award Recipient 2010 Grant winner
- Awarded funds to buy books for classroom library and received professional development on creating life-long learners.
- Chicago Foundation for Education Grant Winner 2012
- Awarded a travel grant to pursue international professional development in South Africa. Made connections to build global classrooms and understand educational policies and practices in post-apartheid South Africa.
- Chicago Foundation for Education Small Grants Winner 2010-2012
- Awarded several small grants that impacted classroom and school community with grade-wide projects that promoted global awareness and arts integration.
Certification
- Principal Endorsement- PreK-12th grade
- Professional Educator License, Illinois State Board of Education
- Superintendent Endorsement December 2022
- Principal as Instructional Leader, K-12; Teacher Evaluator, Principal Evaluator
- Secondary Education, 6-12; Social Science, 6-8 Political Science 9-12; Language Arts, 6-8
Timeline
Principal
Sayre Language Academy
07.2016 - Current
Resident Principal
Walt Disney Magnet School
07.2015 - 06.2016
Instructional Coach
Academy for Urban School Leadership
08.2013 - 07.2015
Middle School Teacher
Northwest Middle School
08.2005 - 06.2013
Master of Education - Educational Psychology
University of Illinois at Chicago
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science and History
Northwestern University
Doctor of Education - Urban Education Leadership
University of Illinois at Chicago
Community Engagement
- Developed key partnerships in public and private sector that established Sayre as a resource within the Galewood/Austin community
- Engaged school leadership team and parents in participatory budget process to secure funds for capital improvement and beautification projects for Sayre
- Maintain relationships with state and local government officials to share district and school vision and goals.
- Secured $290,000 state investment through a commerce Illinois State grant to build a new playground for Sayre and Galewood community
- Developed partnership with community advocacy organization, Galewood Neighbors to promote school improvements, and establish Sayre as a community resource.
- Cultivated and maintained partnerships with business owners to secure grants, donations and services to the school
- Increased the quantity and quality of family engagement events including Hispanic Heritage Fest, Black History Month Celebration, Reading Night, Math and Science Night and International Night
- Partnered with community organization to provide parent workshops, training and a paid Parent Mentoring Program
Professional Presentations
- Teach For America – Fall EmpowerED Conference
Session Facilitator, “Instruction That Grabs Attention and Doesn’t Let Go” | October 2025
- National P-3 Center – Leadership Certificate Program
Panelist, Cycles of Improvement for Early Childhood Outcomes | January 2023-2025
- Surge Institute – Black Principals Network Leadership Collaborative
Featured Presenter, “Leading Schools with Clarity, Balance, and Purpose” | May 2025
- SXSW EDU Surge Institute- Black Principals Network
Panelist, Developing & Sustaining a Black Principal Pipeline | February 2024