Our Principals

Dr. Shawn Kaplan, Principal

Dr. Shawn Kaplan was named Principal at Colonial Middle School in July 2022. He began his administrative career as Assistant Principal at Colonial Middle School, where he served as Athletic Director, supervised several departments, and scheduled Activity Period, among other duties.

Prior to joining the administrative team, he taught both sixth grade and eighth grade English Language Arts at Upper Merion Area Middle School, where he worked to develop curriculum and to design writing instruction and assessment strategies. In addition, he worked on the school leadership team to help implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) programming and lead various subcommittees.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Kaplan has coached lacrosse at the youth, high school, and college levels, including helping to lead the Cabrini Cavaliers to winning the 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship. He has coached numerous players who have gone on to earn high school and NCAA All-American honors.

After graduating from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Dr. Kaplan earned a B.A. in Strategic Communications from The Ohio State University. He has also earned an M.Ed in Secondary English Education from Saint Joseph's University and an M.Ed Leadership with Administrative Certification and Ed.D. doctoral degree from Cabrini University.

Michael Lyle, Assistant Principal

In addition to his grade level duties as an Assistant Principal, Mike Lyle creates the master schedule for the building. He joined the administrative team in his 24th year with Colonial School District. Mr. Lyle, a former Master Teacher, taught math at the middle school and has also taught graduate level classes at the University of Pennsylvania called “Strategies for Teaching Mathematics” and “Strategies for Teaching Mathematics and Science.”

His interaction with students also extends to the athletic realm, where he has served as a coach for varsity football and wrestling at the high school, as well as for softball and track at the middle school.

Mr. Lyle received his associate’s degree from Penn State University, has a bachelor’s degree in Math from Cabrini College, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Gratz College.

Christopher Lashley, Assistant Principal

With a rich and diverse background in education, Christopher Lashley has dedicated over a decade to fostering creativity and excellence in students. A passionate music educator for 10 years, Christopher has also served as a curriculum supervisor for Art, Music, and Theater for three years. Currently, he holds the dual roles of Assistant Principal and Athletics/Activities Director.

In the classroom, Christopher Lashley was a two-time Grammy-nominated Music Educator of the Year, a recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field. He has also been honored with the Lang Lang Keys of Inspiration grant and the Little Kids Rock Modern Band grant, further highlighting his commitment to advancing music education.

Christopher holds a degree in Music Education, with a concentration in Opera Performance, from Lincoln University. He also earned dual master's degrees in Early Childhood Education and Educational Leadership from the same institution. Christopher is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in K-12 Leadership at St. Joseph's University, demonstrating his continuous pursuit of knowledge and leadership excellence.

In addition to his academic and professional achievements, Christopher is a former member of the world-renowned Boys Choir of Harlem, a testament to his lifelong passion for music and performance.

Marla Spivey, Assistant Principal

Marla Spivey comes to Colonial School District after having served as an Assistant Principal of Penn Wood Middle School in the William Penn School District, as well as after holding numerous positions related to instruction and leadership with the School District of Philadelphia.

Her undergraduate degree is in economics from Spelman College, and she holds a master’s degree in elementary education from Cheyney University. Her principal’s certificate is from Cabrini University.

One of her professional accomplishments includes being featured by Time magazine as part of an article the magazine published following Philadelphia’s move to privatize some of its schools.