“I think if I’m really good at my job, I’ll make another me.” Shaka Rawls is the beloved principal of LEO Catholic High School in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood in Chicago. His goal is to give his 210 Black and Brown all-male students the foundation to succeed in what he calls a “cold, cold world.” He shares all of himself with his boys: tears, successes, fears, and failures. He wants them to see it all; to show them that they don’t have to be afraid to be who they are. He talks with Jeanne about why he made sacrifices to come to Leo; what his favorite question is for his students; how he shows them their voice matters, how he’s turned traditional education on its ear at Leo, and why he trades in the most expensive commerce there is – love.

About Shaka:

Shaka Rawls, a 1993 Leo High School graduate, has been Leo’s principal since 2016. During that time the school has experienced a 50-percent enrollment increase, as well as significant upgrades to its curriculum, technology and physical plant. Mr. Rawls holds a bachelor’s degree from Aurora University, where he played football and wrestled, and a master’s from the University of Illinois-Chicago, where he is completing a doctorate in educational policy. Mr. Rawls is regarded as a national leader in urban education and is a sought-after speaker on issues related to the topic. He has received a Chicagoan of the Year award from Chicago Magazine, a Defender Man of Excellence award from Chicago Defender Media and the Helen Dumas Excellence in Education award from the Faith Community of St. Sabina. A member of the Leo High School Hall of Fame, he was the Leo Alumni Association’s Man of the Year in 2020. Mr. Rawls and his wife, Rukiya Byrd Rawls, have a teenage daughter, Samira.