A Surprise Award for a Chicago School Leader

During a surprise school assembly, Dr. Shaka Rawls, the principal of Leo High School and an alumnus, was awarded the prestigious Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership. The ceremony, kept secret until the moment of recognition, let students and staff experience the excitement firsthand.

A Legacy of Transformation

• Perfect college acceptance record for many students.
• Culture shift: moving beyond test scores to tangible student success.
• Recognition among only a handful of principals each year who demonstrate lasting, meaningful change.

Award Details

• $10,000 grant: half for personal use, half for Leo’s programs.
• Paid sabbatical at Northwestern University: time to recharge and acquire new strategies.

Community Praise

“He’s a hometown hero who knows how to lift his students up,” said Alan Mather, president of the Golden Apple Foundation.

Future Plans

• Family vacation.
• Reinvestment into Leo’s resources, emphasizing safe, supportive spaces where students feel valued and prepared for life after graduation.

Impact

Under Rawls’ guidance, Leo High has seen:

• Increased enrollment.
• Enhanced reputation as a model of community-based leadership driving academic excellence.