Office of Deputy Superintendent of Schools

Jessica Benavides

Deputy Superintendent of Schools

jessica.benavides@lansingschools.net

Schools, Instruction, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Evaluations, Assessment, Athletics, MICIP Principals, School Improvement MICIP, Data Evaluation, Research Requests, RGB3, IRIPs, Steering Committees, Curriculum, DIAFL, Instructional Council, New Visions Portal, Partnership, Professional Development

Taryn Almquist

Executive Assistant
taryn.almquist@lansingschools.net

Sarah Hipps

Project Manager
sarah.hipps@lansingschools.net

519 W. Kalamazoo Street,
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 755-2090 Office
(517) 755-1049 Fax


Schools Division

Kim Johnson-Ray

Senior Director of Elementary Education
kimberly.johnson-ray@lansingschools.net

Ariel Rodriguez Peña

Senior Director of Middle Years and Academies
ariel.rodriguez-pena@lansingschools.net

Mitch Foster

Senior Director of Secondary Education
mitchell.foster@lansingschools.net

Michelle Whalen

Executive Assistant
michelle.whalen@lansingschools.net


Instructional Division

Yvonne Thomas

Director of Instruction (K-8, Math & Science)
yvonne.thomas@lansingschools.net

Sarah Odneal, Ed.D.

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
sarah.odneal@lansingschools.net

Heather Guerra

Director of Instruction (K-8, Literacy & Social Studies)
heather.guerra@lansingschools.net

Anna DiPonio

Director of Assessment and Evaluation
anna.diponio@lansingschools.net

Lisa Dean

Director of Instruction (9-12)
lisa.dean@lansingschools.net

James Galloway

School Accountability Analyst
James.Galloway@lansingschools.net

Leigh Schafer

Asst. Director of Educator Quality Supports
leigh.schafer@lansingschools.net


11,500 Enrollment by 2025
85% Graduation Rate by 2025
90% Attendance by 2025