Shannon truly believes that connecting, collaboration, and consistency are the pillars of success.  A graduate of Detroit Cass Technical High School, Shannon has traveled roads that few have chosen.  A former dean's list collegiate football athlete, Shannon's professional background includes work as a Georgia State Trooper, a United States Air Marshal specializing in counterterrorism, and an Educational Consultant with Houghton Mifflin. Shannon effectively mentors, models, and molds character for students, staff, and stakeholders.

Shannon has a Bachelor's Degree in mathematics and a Master's Degree in Educational Administration.  Blue-collar parents, working and earning "what you get", raised Shannon, and this was instilled at an early age while growing up on Collingwood in the 313 area code. His late mother, Dr. Jean Mayfield, was an educator with 4 degrees (one for each kid). At an early age, he was influenced by his mother to embrace mobility and diversity as a person. As a mathematics teacher, Shannon received the Booker T. Washington Educators Award for outstanding service to students and the community in 1995, while advocating for excellence in the Detroit Public Schools.

Shannon is an accomplished writer of children's books, available in 12 languages, including Braille. His strengths lie in the skills and abilities of young people and the opportunity to engage, teach, and mentor them. Shannon started coaching Little League Baseball at the age of 13 in the City of Detroit PAL League. The coaching experience resonated when he returned to Detroit in the early 90s and accepted the head football coaching position at Southeastern High School. During his tenure there, 58 male and female student-athletes received some form of scholarship or assistance to colleges and universities throughout the United States. Shannon coached at Southeastern for 5 years before joining the football staff at Wayne State University. Shannon became the defensive coordinator for Detroit  St. Martin De Porres in 2000, where he had the opportunity to coach his son, enjoy a milestone, and be part of winning a State Championship in 2001, the 11th in the storied history of the school.

Shannon has enjoyed appreciable career success in coaching, but his "passion" is in academic and character education within educational settings or from an administrative perspective. Shannon has addressed students, parents, civic organizations, and collegians throughout the nation with messages focused on character and discipline for success. In 2009, his principles were recognized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when he became the first African American Male Administrator in the history of the Manheim Township School District.  In 2012, Shannon achieved another milestone, with a unanimous appointment as the first African American Principal of William Allen High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania.  This was a first in their 100-year school history. Shannon continued his journey in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with a stop at Philadelphia's Overbrook High School (previous home to Wilt Chamberlain and Will Smith) as a Turnaround Principal, where, in one year, the high school graduation rate increased to nearly 80% after previous marks of 65%.  Ironically, Shannon's first career win as a high school Coach came against the Legendary Woody Thomas and Detroit Central.  Let's "Get Ready" because We are Soaring for Success!