Michelle Hite serves as Director of Elementary Curriculum & Instruction, Accreditation at USD 232.  Her primary areas of focus are Elementary C&I, Systems Accreditation, MTSS, assessments, and student achievement.  She joined the district in 2006 as a teacher, and served as a Learning Coach and Principal.  She has a career of 32 years in public education. 

Mrs. Hite earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, master’s degree in Administrative Leadership, and district administrative licensure.  She enjoys working with staff, departments, and teams to improve instructional practice, increase student achievement, and engage teachers in data-driven decision making.

Contact info: mhite@usd232.org  

Jeri Powers serves as the District Literacy Specialist for grades K-12. Her primary area of focus is to assist in guidance of professional development, long-term planning, dyslexia support, and MTSS reading intervention work. She joined the district in 1983 as a third grade teacher and then stayed home for several years with her three sons. Rejoining the district in 1996, she has served as an early childhood para-professional and building level reading specialist. Her career as an educator spans more than 25 years. 

Jeri earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a master’s degree in Teaching & Leadership, and certifications as a Reading Specialist K-12 and ESOL. Additionally she serves on the Kansas Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia and is a National LETRS trainer, which provides professional development on the Science of Reading. She enjoys working with teachers and administrators to deepen their knowledge of the Science of Reading so that student literacy growth is maximized.   

Contact:  jpowers@usd232.org

Tami Casey joined De Soto Schools in the spring of 2019 and serves as the Executive Administrative Assistant of the Curriculum and Instruction Department.   Tami is a Kansas City native and mom to 13 International Exchange Students.  A move in 2015 took she and husband, Gary to the suburbs of Minneapolis, MN, where she enjoyed her job as the Registrar for Chaska Middle School East in Chaska, MN,  After a few Minnesota winters they left the bold north behind, returned to their roots and are happy to call KC home again.  

Contact info:  tcasey@usd232.org