Shanae Staples

Shanae Staples joins Transcend as a Partner on the School Design Services team. Shanae currently resides in Indianapolis, IN, but originally hails from Miami, Florida. Shanae attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate studies, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She also received her Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Columbia University. Shanae joined the Teach For America Metro Atlanta corps in 2009, teaching 1st grade at G.A.Towns Elementary in Atlanta Public Schools. She then joined the Teach For America – Metro Atlanta staff as a Manager of Teacher Leadership Development, supporting the development and coaching of 37 early career teachers across grades K-12. Shanae’s passion for coaching and developing strong instructional and culture programming led her to Indianapolis, IN, where she joined the Enlace Academy as a Founding Academic Dean. Shanae was then selected for an Innovation School Fellowship with The Mind Trust, where she received incubation support and leadership development to found a turnaround elementary school in partnership with Indianapolis Public Schools. Shanae served as the Founding School Leader at Kindezi Academy, improving the school’s state accountability grade from an F to a B within its first three years. Her commitment to developing a strong school culture, rooted in love and high expectations, significantly improved the school culture and climate and increased student enrollment by over 100 students. Most recently, Shanae served as the School Leader for KIPP Indy Unite Elementary, over grades 3-5.