Administration

Shanelle Smith is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and an alumna of Lincoln College Preparatory Academy. After high school, she attended Fisk University in Nashville, TN where she double-majored in Business Management and Political Science. In 2003, she graduated with both Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. After attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law for a short time,  personal tragedy struck. Now tasked with supporting her younger siblings, Shanelle went to work at the Full Employment Council serving as a Career Development Executive in the Youth Opportunity program. This is where she found her love for educating young people in her community, which later led to her attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction, followed by an Education Specialist degree in Superintendency and School Leadership from Webster University.  Throughout her career, Mrs. Smith has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, curriculum coordinator, assistant principal, online teacher, adjunct instructor, and, now, Principal. Mrs. Smith is also the Founder and President of HBCU Walking Billboard, a nonprofit organization that promotes awareness of, attendance to, and graduation from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Presently, she resides in Kansas City with her husband, Darnell; their two sons, Kaleb and Micah; and their dog, Marlo.  

Takia Steele is a Kansas City, Missouri, native. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, before moving on to obtain her master's degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in educational leadership and policy analysis, also earning her Building-Level K–12 Administrator Certification. Ms. Steele has worked within KCPS for the past five years, starting off as a College and Career Resource Specialist, moving on to become a classroom teacher, teaching fifth grade as well as first grade, before transitioning to the high school setting as a graduation coach.

Ms. Steele joined the Lincoln family just before the 23–24 school year as the Dean of Culture and Climate and now serves as an assistant principal. Ms. Steele's passion is advocating for, protecting, and educating children. Outside of school, Ms. Steele enjoys spending time with family and traveling.