Niche, a community data website, rated the Okemos Public Schools the number one district in the Lansing area and the fourth-best district in Michigan. Other ratings include an A+ in teaching, academics and college prep.
Among the information provided, Okemos schools rank 18 of 561 under Districts with the Best Teachers in Michigan and 23 of 552 under Best Places to Teach in Michigan.
Niche analyzes comprehensive data on colleges, school districts and communities. It collects data from different sources and conducts its own research to provide accurate information every day.
Assistant Principal of Okemos High School, Lamanzar Williams, said he is proud to be a part of the school community.
“We all play a role in the collective success of the students,” Williams said. “The hard work of our students, families, and teachers [show commitment] to educating students at a high level.”
Superintendent John Hood has worked in the Okemos Public Schools for 24 years. He is in his second year as superintendent for the district.
Chrystel Lopez
Superintendent John Hood discusses his passion for the Okemos School District and community during a Zoom Interview.“[The news is] about us, and it’s about our community that highly values education, one that is highly collaborative between parents and guardians and our staff,” Hood said. “The Okemos schools have always valued that togetherness and we have parents and guardians that are great student advocates that help us problem-solve together to meet our student needs.”
President of the Board of Education, Dean Bolton, agrees.
“It is the result of the dedication and hard work of all of our stakeholders: students, parents and guardians, faculty, staff, administrators, and other community members,” Bolton said. “While I am always pleased to see these ratings … we must always look for ways to improve. That has always been our district’s mindset, and I believe that is one of the reasons for our continued success.”
Chrystel Lopez
Map shows the border of Okemos school district and its relation to the Lansing area.Throughout his career, Hood has worked as a teacher, principal and now superintendent. He said these experiences have given him the ability to develop a well-rounded view of the different departments in the district due to his variety of experiences working in the Okemos education system.
“I think it’s enabled me to have a well-rounded view of the importance of all those stakeholders,” Hood said. “From our transportation department, to our tech department, to our food service department, and how each of those are a critical part of the puzzle in making the Okemos schools what it is for our kids and our community.”
Hood believes that Okemos Schools’ strongest qualities are diversity and inclusion, enabling the school to create a stronger learning community that goes beyond the textbook.
In this interview clip, Hood expands on the importance of diversity within the district.
“I expect the journey of our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative to continue so that we can remove any institutionalized bias in our system and make sure that we are not unintentionally disadvantaging any student populations,” Hood said. “We always have that learner mindset. We can’t expect our students to learn if we are not a learning organization ourselves.”