This is my twenty-fourth year in education and fifteenth year in educational leadership. Education is in my DNA. My mother was a CPS teacher and administrator at Schiller Elementary in the Chicago Housing Authority’s Cabrini Green neighborhood. As a proud CPS graduate, I graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a bachelors in elementary education in 1999. I adored being a primary teacher in CPS on the south and southwest side. Teaching was absolutely my passion. I was pushed by some dynamic mentors to get my masters in educational leadership from Concordia University in 2005. I fell in love with coaching teachers which became my new love.
In 2007, I applied and was granted membership in New Leaders for New Schools cohort 8. This was a life changing experience for my leadership. In staying connected with both organizations I was interviewed on two different occasions to share my experience on what it means to be a black school principal with 19th news.org. I successfully completed my principal residency at Disney Magnet School and later became their assistant principal. In 2010, I found my purpose and planted roots in Bronzeville as the principal of THE Carter G. Woodson Elementary School. A fun fact about me is that I thrive in creating partnerships in the community to enhance the educational experience of my scholars.When I am not being a school leader, I wear many hats. I am an only child in a huge extended family. My mother is the youngest of eight and my dad was the youngest of 13. Needless to say, I am a people person and love the comradery of team work. I have been married to my husband Dwayne for 20 years this August. We are blessed to have two amazing children Kamelah (10) and Aiden (7). I am a member of a variety of educational organizations like IPA, ASCD and local memberships in CPAA. I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and an executive board member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Chicago Chapter. Faith is extremely important to me as it grounds and centers me in everything I do. For fun I love going to brunch with my friends and tapping my toe to Chicago House music.

Tamara N. Littlejohn | Principal at Carter G. Woodson Elementary, Chicago, IL