Our Principals

Dr. Jimmie Bullard
Benjamin Banneker Elementary, Principal

Dr. Jimmie Bullard has over 26 years experience in the field of urban education.  She has a strong background in effective classroom management, educating the urban learner and is a proud product of Kansas City Missouri Public Schools.

Dr. Bullard received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Master of Education degree from Lincoln University. She completed her second master’s degree in School Administration from William Woods University and completed her Doctorate in Urban Leadership from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Prior to her current role, Dr. Bullard has served as an elementary teacher, PBIS consultant, instructional coach and college professor.

She loves poetry, reading, writing children’s literature, studying and writing books on cultural relevant pedagogy. She also loves football, and her favorite team is the Kansas City Chiefs. She is married and has two amazing children.

Sheila Dannar
East High School, Principal

Sheila Dannar began her 29th year in KCPS this year and is currently the Interim Principal at East High School. She began teaching at Bingham Middle School in August of 1996 and later taught 4th grade at East when it was converted to an elementary site. After teaching for five years, Ms. Dannar worked as an administrator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and is committed to urban education.

Stacia Deckard
Border Star Montessori, Principal

Over the last five years, Stacia Deckard has worked as an Assistant Principal in Kansas City Public Schools, and the last four years were served at Border Star Montessori. She received a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Master’s in Administration from Park University. She is currently working on her Ed.D. at the University of Kansas.

Deckard is honored to serve Border Star Montessori’s community as principal. She looks forward to working with talented teachers and students and collaborating with caregivers to continue the success of our bright future leaders.

Michelle Dickerson
King Elementary, Principal

Michelle Dickerson is the new Principal of King Elementary. She is not new to instructional leadership, and she’s looking forwrad to continuing to apply that strength at KCPS. She is a product of KCPS and has served in various roles for 28 years. 

Dickerson earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Avila University and in TESOL (Teacher English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Webster University. She completed her Administration Certification through Northwest Missouri State Turnaround School Leadership Program, later earning her Education Specialist Degree in Urban Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Marlon Edwards
Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, Principal

Marlon Edwards has been the Principal at Wheatley for the past two years and, before that, worked as a classroom teacher and Instructional coach. He attended Missouri Western University where he received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Webster University and an Education Specialist Degree in Elementary Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

Edwards was born and raised in Kansas City and graduated from the Kansas City Public School District. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, cleaning his car, watching tv or movies and shopping.

Alisha Glover
Northeast High School, Principal

Principal Glover brings over a decade of experience in education as a teacher, Interventionist, College & Career Director, Instructional Coach and Vice Principal. 
In her various roles, Principal Glover has increased teacher retention, successfully designed and implemented professional development, and leveraged data to ensure student success.

Glover believes in fostering a high-performance environment through positive climate and culture, student voice, and parent involvement.

Luis Hinojosa
Pitcher Elementary School, Principal

Luis Hinojosa has over 20 years of experience as an educator. He has taught middle school, served as a high school Assistant Principal and elementary Principal and is currently the Principal at Pitcher Elementary.  Hinojosa was named the 2018 Principal of the Year by the Kansas City Public School Division of Academics.

He is married with three children and is currently pursuing his Doctorate Degree at Kansas University. In seventh grade he knew he wanted to be a teacher, and years later, he delights in creating science experiments with his instructors, like throwing boiling water up in the cold air to create snow or creatively enhancing teaching skills by using the synonym game “Password.” 

Dr. LeJuan Johnson
Success Academy at Anderson, Principal

Dr. LeJuan P. Johnson is the Principal of Success Academy at Anderson where she previously served as the Associate Principal for the past four years and the Out of school (AOSS) Coordinator for three years. Being a change agent and serving in the education field for over 20 years, teaching is her mission through educating students, staff and stakeholders in an untraditional manner.

Dr. Johnson has devoted her skills and talents to serving the community in St. Louis, MO and Kansas City, MO. As the wife of Dr. Michael B. Johnson, she is the mother of five males and is raising seventeen children (extended family members). She is an educator, instructor, Case Manager and Board member of Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH). In addition, she is the Founder and CEO of her own non-profit organization, A New Beginnings, CDC, which began 20 years ago.

Her educational pursuits began at Forest Park Community College. Returning to school during a challenging time in her life was the start of a new beginning. With her faith in God, loving family and community support, she remains a domestic violence survivor while sharing knowledge of education, God and experiences with those who would receive it.

Her education includes a dual associate degree, Proficiency in Business, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Masters in Secondary Education, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, Ph.D. in Education Leadership in Educational Administration and a Doctor of Ministry. Her licenses include Superintendent, Principal K-12, Business Educator 9th-12th, Director of Facilities (one hundred or more children) and Foster Parent. She is a strategic leader that translates educational strategies into practical hands-on procedures.

Opportunity does not knock; it silently goes by looking like an unfair exchange. She will not allow the door of opportunity to pass by without teaching how to seize it and create something experiential. Not making a difference but BEING the difference is what life is all about.

Dr. Phillena Layne
Whittier Elementary School, Principal

Dr. Phillena Layne is a native Kansas Citian and graduate of Kansas City Public Schools. She has B.A. in Elementary Education from Alabama A&M University, M.A. in Integrated Humanities and Education from Rockhurst University, Educational Specialist in Elementary School Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University and was recently accepted into the School Administration Doctoral program at Saint Louis University. Over the tenure of her career, she has served students as a classroom teacher, teacher on special assignment, Instructional Coach, Program Coordinator and Assistant Principal.

She is a Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar (Japan) and was in the founding KC Leading Educators Cohort. Ms. Layne is completing her fifth year at Whittier Elementary where she served as the Vice Principal and now Principal. She is the proud mother to the sweetest 7-year-old little boy, a self-proclaimed “foodie” and enjoys traveling when possible.

Michelle McDaniel
Ingels Elementary School, Principal

Michelle McDaniel is an experienced and reflective educator, with more than 20 years of experience in education. She has served in various positions within the St. Louis City Public Schools, St. Louis County Special School District, Riverview Gardens Schools District, Fontbonne University and Harris Stowe University as a Special Education Teacher, mentor, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Adjunct Professor.

McDaniel’s educational experiences have afforded her the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of people to meet the common goal of increasing student achievement and well-being. She is excited to continue the great work at HMC-1 where every student has the opportunity to learn and thrive, by providing a positive learning environment, a committed and focused educational team, and an encouraging community.

Andrew Murphy
George Washington Carver School, Principal

Andrew Murphy brings a passion for student learning and multiculturalism to Carver. He started teaching at Carver Dual Language in 2014 and hasn’t been able to leave since! He has served as an English as a Second Language Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Instructional Coach, Vice Principal, and has been serving as principal since 2022. He attended Graceland University for his undergraduate studies in Elementary Education. He developed his leadership skills through graduate programs in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Educational Leadership from Park University and Northwest Missouri State University.

Murphy has a passion for multicultural education and has served as an educational consultant for HealthEd Connect, which supports three school systems in Zambia, and currently serves on the board of directors. He also serves on the board of Kansas City Public School Retirement System.

He loves traveling to visit friends and family around the world. He also enjoys playing cards, pickleball, tennis, piano and reading in his free time. As a principal, he hopes to create a climate and culture where all staff members are valued and all students are achieving to their fullest potential.

Lakeisha Paul
George Melcher Elementary School, Principal

Lakeisha Paul is the proud principal at George Melcher Elementary School, which serves over 300 students in grades kindergarten through sixth. She is a veteran educator with over 25 years of experience and strives to lead by example and cultivate a school culture centered around family and strong interpersonal relationships. Prior to working in Kansas City Public Schools, she worked in Savannah Chatham County Public Schools. In 2018, she answered the call of leadership and has served the students, families and communities of Melcher Elementary School for the past five years. Mrs. Paul knew that she would be an educator from a very young age. 

Lakeisha is married to Mr. Donnie Paul, Sr and the proud mother of two boys, Freddie III and Devon.

Dr. Angela Sharp
Faxon Elementary School, Principal

Dr. Angela Sharp is an education veteran with over 24 years of experience. In that time, she has been a middle school math and science teacher, middle school math Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal and Principal. She also coordinated an After School Program and was selected on two occasions to coordinate district-wide summer enrichment programs. She has been to the Learning Sciences Training on two occasions which allowed her to plan and facilitate multiple district level professional developments on standards development and teacher evaluation. She also completed the School Leadership Lab focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Dr. Sharp has been nominated twice for the Crystal Apple award and was the winner of the 5-Star Service Award.

Leah Starr
Trailwoods Elementary, Principal

Principal Leah Starr has been proudly passionate about student learning since she began her teaching career in 2002. Her love for student growth and development has grown from her 16 years of service in education for Kansas City Public Schools. She earned her undergrad degree in Early Childhood Education from Park University, a MA in Multidisciplinary Education from Webster University, and her Ed Specialist Degree from University of Missouri. She has held several roles in the district including Teacher, Early Reading First Coach, Instructional Coach, Vice Principal, and Principal.

She is married with three wonderful children. Ms. Starr believes given opportunity and guidance, all students can use their leadership skills and talents to do great for our community and the world.