KCPS Leadership

Dr. Derald Davis has been employed with Kansas City Public Schools for 27 years. Dr. Davis was named Interim Deputy Superintendent and Chief Equity Officer in July 2022. His departmental oversight includes School Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Student Support, Research and Accountability, and Equity, Inclusion and Innovation. 

Prior to his appointment as Interim Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Davis served as the Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Inclusion and Innovation and led the development and advancement of programs that enhance the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging throughout the school system. In this capacity, he led the district’s Equity Steering Committee, facilitated professional development for staff at all levels of the organization on implicit bias and other equity-focused topics, and worked with leaders to strengthen capacity to foster equitable, inclusive and anti-racist learning environments. Dr. Davis also led the creation and implementation of a district-wide mentoring program which focuses on involving the entire metropolitan area in impacting the lives of students. Under his leadership, the KCPS mentoring program won the 2018 South Kansas City Alliance Outstanding Educational Achievement Program Award.

Dr. Davis previously served as the Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership in KCPS and was responsible for providing administrative direction, coaching and support to all K-12 building principals. Prior to that, Dr. Davis served as a principal for numerous years and is highly regarded for his leadership in creating rigorous, safe and inclusive school cultures. Prior to serving as principal, Dr. Davis was a Black history and multicultural studies teacher.

Dr. Davis is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including the Anna Julia Cooper Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Award from the National Society for Experiential Education (2022); the Educator of the Decade Award from Lincoln University (2021); the Outstanding Educator Service Award from Phi Delta Kappa Sorority (2018); the Turnaround Leader Award from Kansas City Public Schools (2014); the Joseph B. Whitehead Educator of Distinction Award from the Coca Cola Scholars Foundation (2014); and the Ida B. Wells Risk Taker Award from the National Alliance of Black School Educators (2014).

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Jordan Gordon joined Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) in 2017 serving in several leadership roles; Area Supervisor, Director, Executive Director, Chief Human Resources Officer and currently, as the Chief Operations Officer.

Jordan has been featured as a keynote speaker for No Kid Hungry and facilitated several leadership development seminars for the Department of Secondary & Elementary Education and several national conferences. As a collaborative, people-oriented leader; Jordan has developed thriving partnerships in the KCPS community, focused on ensuring equitable access of resources for families and students of KCPS.

Prior to joining KCPS, Jordan honorably served in the U.S. Army and chartered a successful career, spanning over ten years leading operations, workforce strategies, capacity building and system enhancements in the corporate sector. Additionally, Jordan is a proud product of KCPS, attending Pk-12, graduating from Northeast High School. 

Jordan holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, a master’s in business administration (MBA) and is pursuing his Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification.
In addition to his service at KCPS, Jordan is also a member of the National K-12 Advisory Council, Missouri Association of School Business Officials and serves on the Association of Montessori International Board of Directors as the Finance Chair. 

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Dr. LaTanya Franklin, native of Kansas City, Missouri and product of Kansas City Missouri Public Schools, has over 20 years of educational experience. Dr. Franklin has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development for Kansas City Public Schools for the 2022-2023 school year and previously as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction in the Hickman Mills School District. 

During the 2022-2023 school year, Dr. Franklin played a critical lead role in the development and articulation of the district’s Blueprint 2030 Student Achievement and Effective Teaching goals and strategies and the 5 Big Rocks instructional focus areas of Literacy, Math, and Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices. Through the coordinated efforts of the CIPD Department to increase student achievement and literacy proficiency in KCPS, every K-2 teacher in the district will receive professional development in the science of reading for the upcoming school year. Additionally, all district staff will participate in targeted professional development aligned to the district’s instructional priorities, ensuring continuity across the district and equitable access to highly effective instruction. Under her direction, there is evidence of a clear, strategic focus on professional development, a viable, culturally responsive curriculum and newly developed, standards aligned common assessments.

In her previous roles, Dr. Franklin has supervised elementary principals, supported early learning and district federal programs. As an Assistant Superintendent, her oversight consisted of leading a Curriculum and Instruction Department that included elementary and secondary schools and programs, early learning programs, professional development and assessment, and technology. Under her leadership, the district’s Pre-Kindergarten / Early Learning Program won the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce 2019 Community IMPACT Award, and the district was designated a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished District in 2021.

A highly successful administrator, Dr. Franklin has many career accolades. A few notable successes include overseeing a district-wide STEAM/PBL expansion, initiating the implementation of a new, standards-based curriculum PK-12 with aligned district benchmark assessments, streamlining multi-tiered systems of support and enhancing the college and career experiences for elementary and secondary students. In addition, she also developed the district’s PK-3rd grade Literacy Plan, coordinated a teacher-led K-5 Literacy Cohort, and helped to secure a $190,000.00 Kauffman Foundation Individual School Grant to increase academic outcomes for students using a culturally responsive teaching approach. With a background in special education and experience across the PK-12 spectrum, Dr. Franklin’s vision, direction, and efforts have resulted in improved academic outcomes and increased access to opportunities for all students.

Nicole Collier White was named Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer in June 2023. Ms. Collier White joined Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) in January 2011, serving in several leadership roles: Repurposing, Program Coordinator, Partnerships and Volunteering, Manager, and Director of the Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation. Her time in KCPS has been spent working to enrich and enhance the educational experience of all KCPS students by providing financial support and other resources to supplement district-wide programs and activities.

Nicole’s career has focused on community development in the public, private and non-profit sectors.  She currently serves on the Advisory Board for WIN for KC, KC Rising: Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, Show Me KC Schools and Big Brother Big Sisters Kansas City.     

Collier White received a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Jewell College in Nonprofit Leadership and a minor in Entrepreneurial Leadership.

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