Tom Shepley

Tom began his career as a 1992 Teach for America corps member, teaching in Baltimore City and later in Detroit. After completing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Reading Policy at the University of Michigan, he returned to Baltimore where he served as a principal for five years. During his principalship, Mt Washington Elementary closed the achievement gaps previously apparent at the school, raising math scores in the primary grades by nearly 30% and virtually closing the gap between those students with disabilities and their non-disabled peers. During his last year as principal, Tom was proud to announce that the school had the highest reading achievement in the city and was subsequently named a Blue Ribbon School for sustained progress. Tom moved to New Orleans in 2008, working for Teach For America as well as New Leaders for New Schools. In 2012, Tom joined the staff at New Schools for New Orleans, where he went on to serve as Vice President of Schools at a time of unprecedented growth in the number of high quality seats in the charter schools of New Orleans. Tom started as Executive Director of Leadership Development at FirstLine Schools in July of 2018 and assumed the role of Chief Academic Officer and Interim Schools Officer in September 2019. Tom is the happy husband to his wife Nancy and the proud father of two children, Adam and Claire.