Meet the Board

D. DuFort - 2025 BoE President

DENISE DUFORT, PRESIDENT

Longtime community member and retired educator, Denise and her husband Dean have been residents of Grand Ledge for over 35 years. Their two children went through Grand Ledge Public Schools. Denise worked as a teaching assistant and library secretary for many years before returning to school and graduating from Oakland University with a degree in Elementary Education, returning to Grand Ledge Public Schools, this time as a reading and classroom teacher. During her 12-year teaching career, Mrs. DuFort attained her reading specialist master's degree from MSU. She retired from teaching in 2015, and began serving on the board in 2017. Her current term expires December 31, 2028.

A. Kuykendoll 2025 BoE Vice President

ASHLEY KUYKENDOLL, VICE PRESIDENT

Ms. Kuykendoll currently serves as a Division Director within the State of Michigan with more than 15 years of professional and community experience. She is the daughter of a United States Armed Services Veteran and a former Special Education Teacher. Ms. Kuykendoll holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Family Community Service with a Specialization in Youth & Adolescents from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Davenport University. Ms. Kuykendoll and her husband currently have two Comets, a son and a daughter, enrolled in the district. Ms. Kuykendoll was elected in the November 2022 Election to a term that expires December 31, 2028.

N. Shannon 2025 BoE Secretary

NICOLE SHANNON, SECRETARY

Ms. Shannon is an attorney with the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, where she provides pro bono legal representation for older adults and adults with disabilities. Ms. Shannon has a Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan. Ms. Shannon and her husband are proud graduates of Grand Ledge High School. They have two daughters in the district. Ms. Shannon was elected in November 2020 to a term that expires December 31, 2026.

Dr. Toni Glasscoe - Trustee 2024

DR. TONI GLASSCOE, TRUSTEE

Dr. Glasscoe is currently the Associate Vice President of External Affairs, Development and K-12 Operations. In this role she oversees programming for dual credit programming to include the Career and Technical Education courses offered through the Eaton Regional Education Services Agency (ERESA). She previously worked for 14 combined years in Human Resource Management for the City of Lansing and State of Michigan. Additionally, she spent 10 years in the classroom and overseeing K-12 programs and activities. Toni represents LCC on the College and Career Readiness (C3R) Advisory Board, the Cristo Rey Community Center Board and the Lansing Promise Board. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University, her Master of Arts in Education and doctorate in Educational Leadership from Oral Roberts University. However, her most important role is that of wife, mother and grandmother. Dr. Glasscoe was appointed to the Board in January 2022 to fill a one-year vacancy and was elected in November 2022 to a term that expires December 31, 2026.

K. Stevens 2025 BoE Trustee

KALI STEVENS, TRUSTEE

Ms. Stevens is an Instructional Design Specialist with East Lansing Public Schools, where she has worked for 10 years. Before her current role, Ms. Stevens served as an Instructional Technology Specialist at East Lansing Public Schools and Clinton County RESA and, while in college, worked as an advocate in the Michigan House of Representatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Public Policy and a Master of Arts in Educational Technology, both from Michigan State University. She serves on the Grand Ledge Public Schools Caregiver School Improvement Team and the Holbrook PTO. Ms. Stevens was elected to the board in November 2024 to a term that expires on December 31, 2030.

M. Oppenheim 2025 BoE Trustee

MATT OPPENHEIM, TRUSTEE

Mr. Oppenheim is a teacher at Waverly Community Schools, where he is in his 29th year of teaching. Matt is currently the Virtual Education teacher at the high school and was an English teacher for his first 25 years. During his tenure at Waverly he coached baseball, basketball, and is presently the Varsity golf coach for both the girls and the boys. He has also been very active in the teachers' union as Professional Negotiations Chair, vice-president, and president for the past 12 years. Mr. Oppenheim earned his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University and later his master's degree in Sports Administration from CMU as well. His wife is a newly hired staff member of Grand Ledge Public Schools, serving as an Instructional Coach for the District. He also has two daughters who are proud Comets at Beagle and Hayes. Mr. Oppenheim was elected to the board in November 2024 to a term that expires on December 31, 2030.

C. Holmes 2025 BoE Trustee

COBAN HOLMES, TRUSTEE

Coban Holmes is a software developer with a local insurance company. Coban and his wife moved to the area after graduating from Ferris State University in 2006. They have two daughters who are both Comets. Mr. Holmes was elected to the Board in November 2024 to a term that expires December 31, 2030.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Media inquiries and requests should be directed to John Ellsworth, GLPS Director of Communications: email him at Communications@GLcomets.net or call his office phone at 517-925-5414.