Shadell Purefoy is the Director of Pre-Kindergarten for Uncommon Schools. As an educational leader, Shadell is passionately committed to fostering a learning environment that promotes curiosity, creativity, kindness, and joy, while building a foundation for academic success.
Shadell completed her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education at Temple University and her Master’s in Educational Leadership at Seton Hall University. With more than 20 years of experience as an educator, Shadell has served as a kindergarten teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal.
While teaching, Shadell earned a designation as a “master teacher” and developed various curricula. Her literacy instruction and classroom management techniques have been employed around the world to develop teachers. Shadell has been featured in two texts, Great Habits, Great Readers: A Practical Guide for K-4 Reading in the Light of Common Core and Teach Like a Champion.
While Shadell believes in the importance of using data to personalize student learning and maintains a high bar for academic excellence, she believes that school should feel like family, and is passionate about building and maintaining relationships with her students, staff, and families.