District 67 Names New Principal for Cherokee School

The information below comes from District 67.

The Lake Forest School District 67 Board of Education has approved the appointment of Mrs. Kelly Jackson as the new principal of Cherokee Elementary School, effective July 1, 2013. Dr. Michelle Shinn, who has been serving as principal for both Cherokee and Sheridan Elementary Schools for the past two years will return to her role as principal of Sheridan.

Mrs. Jackson has served in Wilmette Schools and East Grand Rapids Schools, in East Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mrs. Jackson's undergraduate degree is in elementary education, Spanish, and social studies from Calvin College. She taught elementary and middle school Spanish; served as the world language curriculum coordinator; and most recently led Wilmette Junior High School as assistant principal for 8th grade.

“What attracted us to Mrs. Jackson were her roles of increasing responsibility and her considerable success in each," said Superintendent Michael Simeck. "Her current and former employers describe her as “ready, collaborative, and smart”.  As important as those attributes were, perhaps most important was the clear message that her greatest strength was "an ability to build and maintain strong relationships in a high-expectations community.”

Kelly Jackson comments, “Lake Forest Schools have a reputation of excellence, and I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with the students and families at Cherokee Elementary.  I feel my experiences in language education, coupled with my experiences in building leadership make me a great fit for Cherokee.  I’m looking forward to becoming a part of such a terrific team and to playing a role in the continued development of Cherokee Elementary as a great place for children to learn and grow.”