Lakisha Thigpen

LaKisha Thigpen is a passionate advocate, educational leader, and equity-centered change agent dedicated to empowering scholars across the developmental spectrum, from early childhood through young adulthood. With a career in education spanning nearly three decades, she has built a reputation as a transformational leader committed to improving educational outcomes, strengthening school systems, and ensuring students with diverse learning needs receive meaningful opportunities to thrive. She currently serves as Chief School Officer at iCan Dream Center NFP, a therapeutic day school in Illinois, where she leads instructional excellence, specialized services, strategic initiatives, and organizational growth while fostering a culture of compassion, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Throughout her career, LaKisha has held leadership roles as a teacher, learning behavior specialist, principal, director of specialized services, and professional consultant. She has been instrumental in developing systems that improve school operations, staff development, family engagement, and student achievement. Her expertise includes special education leadership, instructional coaching, teacher evaluation systems, behavior management, assessment development, data analysis, and operational excellence. As the founder of a professional consulting agency, she also supports educators and administrators through professional development and strategic guidance designed to strengthen educational practices and leadership capacity.

LaKisha’s leadership philosophy centers on relationships, equity, and sustainable change. She believes strong organizations are built through intentional systems, authentic partnerships, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Her work has been recognized through honors such as the National Center for Learning Disabilities’ Everyday Champion in Education Award in 2020 for her dedication to equitable learning access during the pandemic. Beyond her professional contributions, she actively supports community initiatives, disability advocacy, and family engagement efforts, demonstrating her commitment to creating inclusive environments where scholars, families, and communities can flourish.