Our Founder
Shakira D. Abney-Wisdom
A career educator with 16 years in PK-20 education, Shakira leverages her experience as a Classroom Teacher, Instructional Coach, Principal, Professor and Certified Yoga Instructor to customize support provided to leaders, teams and organizations. Shakira believes intentional community is the vehicle to substantial and lasting change. She has opened a school, taking it from design concept to reality and built over 30 program partnerships to operationalize the mission and vision of the school. Program partners included local and national organizations, including Girls, Inc., CityYear Denver, Young Men of Purpose, Code2College and the National Security Agency. The first graduating class of the school ended their high school career with 100% eligibility for both enrollment in concurrent enrollment courses and graduation. 33% of the graduating class of 2025 received their high school diploma and earned an Associates Degree.
Shakira is a Doctor of Philosophy Candidate in the Educational Leadership Program at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and obtained her 500-CYT certification in November 2024. She holds a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Urban Education from the University of Denver. Shakira is an alumnus of the Ritchie Program for School Leaders and received a Certificate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, also
from the University of Denver. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Minor in Africana Studies from St. John’s University. Shakira served as a City of Tallahassee Mayoral Fellow in the Office of the Mayor and a Florida Gubernatorial Fellow in the Office of the Secretary at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. She has also presented her research at the International Education Development Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Shakira was
inducted into Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.