Who We Are

The Chief of Staff supports the Office of the Superintendent by coordinating the Superintendent's senior management team and serving as the primary staff liaison to the Board of Education. The Chief of Staff oversees and monitors the district's efforts in the areas of:

• Strategic Initiatives including the Strong Schools, Strong Communities implementation
• Planning, Policy and Intergovernmental Relations
• Racial Equity Transformation

The Chief of Staff also supervises the Office of Accountability which supports schools, programs and departments in meeting district, state and federal performance goals and objectives through data-driven decision making. The Office of Accountability includes the departments of:

• Research, Evaluation, and Assessment
• School and Program Improvement
• Title I / Funded Programs

What We Do

• Coordinate development and implementation of the district’s Strong Schools, Strong Communities strategic plan
• Monitor, review and analyze school and district performance and improvement efforts
• Assess and report compliance with district, state and federal performance goals and objectives
• Coordinate all state mandated assessments and specific district-wide assessments
• Facilitate development and implementation of Board policies and administrative procedures
• Oversee district’s policy and legislative activities, including testimony and correspondence with local, state and federal governmental agencies and officials
• Monitor and support the implementation of the district racial equity transformation plan through professional development and coaching

Call Us When You….

• Need district, school or student performance data and/or analysis
• Need assistance with your SCIP or SIP
• Have questions about existing Board policy or administrative procedures or need help drafting proposals for new ones
• Receive an invitation to testify on behalf of the district before a local, state or federal body, or a request from an official to visit or hold an event at your school or site
• Need to know the district’s position on an issue, or want to offer a recommendation for a position
• Would like information on conducting external research projects throughout the district
• Have questions about the district's racial equity transformation plan

Our Staff

Michelle J. Walker
Chief of  Staff
Phone (651) 767-8145
michelle.walker@spps.org

Stacey Gray-Akyea
School and Program Improvement, Director
Phone (651) 767-8361
Stacey.gray-akyea@spps.org

Jacqueline Allen
Strategic Initiatives, Administrator
Phone (651) 767-8145
jacqueline.allen@spps.org

Evelyn Belton-Kocher
Research, Evaluation and Assessment, Director
Phone (651) 767-8383
evelyn.belton-kocher@spps.org

Michelle Bierman
Equity, Assistant Director
Phone (651) 744-1310
michelle.bierman@spps.org

Joe Munnich
Policy, Planning and Intergovernmental Relations, Administrator
Phone (651) 767-8145
joe.munnich@spps.org

Sherry Carlstrom
Title-I Funded Programs, Interim Director
Phone (651) 623-3790
cheryl.carlstrom@spps.org

Donielle Simmons
Accountability Assistant
Phone (651) 767-8145
donielle.mcbride@spps.org