Apryl Shackelford

Founder, Primer Microschool in Liberty City
Florida

Apryl is an accomplished education leader, school founder, and culture-driven practitioner dedicated to advancing student achievement in urban communities. With over a decade of experience in education, she founded and leads the Primer Liberty City Micro-School in Miami, where she has cultivated a restorative, relationship-centered learning environment grounded in student agency and academic growth.

Rooted in Primer’s foundation of “Take Kids Seriously,” Apryl is widely recognized for her expertise in building strong school communities and implementing restorative practices that support both academic and social-emotional success.

As a McLeod Society Fellowship alumna, Apryl embodies the Fellowship’s commitment to developing and connecting leaders who center the humanity, potential, and well-being of every child in their educational work.