Shannon Peterson

Shannon was one of the founders of Lakes International Language Academy in 2004, and as of January 2020, has served as the school’s Executive Director. Her experience and efforts helped the school grow from 177 students to the current enrollment of approximately 1,400, and to expand physically from one building to three, all authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate programming. Over the years the school has also grown from grades K - 4 to grades PreK - 12, and from Spanish immersion to Spanish and Chinese immersion, with French as an additional option at the Upper School. 

Shannon has degrees and certificates in English, Education, and Administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead, the University of Hawai`i at Manoa and Johns Hopkins University as well as a fellowship from the US Dept. of Education to study language immersion. She has taught both English (to native speakers) and English as a Second Language on three continents over her nearly 40 year career. Her students have been aged 3 years to adult, in public and private schools and universities. She also fondly remembers her five years managing a workplace English instruction program for hotel housekeepers in Hawai`i. 

Inspired by people, travel, and formal education, when she and her husband started a family, they moved back to Shannon’s hometown. There, she continues to share what she has learned about the benefits of bilingualism and the significance of global citizenship. Shannon and her husband still live in Forest Lake and are proud parents to three adult children-- who all love to travel!