Project Description
Dr. Paul Karafiol, Fellow
Lake View High School
Chicago, IL
Dr. Paul "P.J." Karafiol has been an educator since his first summer job as a counselor in the UChicago Young Scholars Mathematics Program in 1988. His full-time teaching career began at Phillips Academy, Andover, in 1995, continued at Providence-St. Mel School, and Walter Payton College Prep. Since 2016, Paul has served as the principal of Lake View High School in the Chicago Public Schools, and has participated in the CEO's Principal Advisory Committee and the Principals' Athletic Committee. While at Lake View, Paul led initiatives that doubled the number of students taking AP and Dual Credit classes and increased college enrollment by 20%. Outside of school, Paul coached the Chicago-Area All-Star Math Team, was a co-author of two textbooks in the UCSMP high school curriculum, and was the head author of the American Regions Math League Competition for over ten years. In 2010, Paul founded Payton Citywide Math Circles (now Math Circles of Chicago), an organization that provides free math enrichment to over 1000 students around the city every year. Throughout his work, Paul has been driven by a core belief that talent--mathematical or otherwise--is abundant, not scarce, and needs to be nurtured through a combination of challenge and support. A lifelong Chicagoan and Hyde Parker, Paul lives a mile from his childhood home with his wife, three children (two now in college, one in CPS), and two dogs.
Michelle Vale, Ally
Assistant Principal
Lake View High School
Chicago, IL
Michelle Vale, a proud Chicago Public Schools alumna, is a new assistant principal at Lake View High School, accepting the position in July of 2022. She is a passionate educator, who has dedicated her life to ensuring that all students feel valued, respected, and heard. Her decision to pursue educational leadership was inspired by prior experiences as a leader; she served as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Literacy, English Department Chair, ILT member, Equity Team member, Curriculum and Instruction Subcommittee Chair, and Head Soccer Coach. In these roles, Michelle worked with students, staff, and families to further students’ growth and strengthen teachers’ professional practice; some of her work included leading teachers in examining student data to target skills for growth and providing professional learning around skill building and instructional practice. Michelle began teaching in 2005, and, early in her career, she achieved Nationally Board Certified Teacher status; her lifelong work with students and teachers demonstrates the program’s values of inclusivity and representation. In her current role as assistant principal, Michelle has been working with her departments to ensure that their unit plans and instruction provide equitable access for all students, as well as providing staff with support in their efforts to better understand their students’ needs. As a bilingual administrator, Michelle looks forward to persevering in her work with the Lake View community and strengthening communication with the predominantly Spanish-speaking families, and she aspires to continue building collaborative relationships with staff that offer students opportunities, empowerment, and empathy.