Leadership - Center for Responsive Schools

Dr. Lora Hodges

President & Chief Executive Officer

Lora Hodges has been Center for Responsive Schools’ President and CEO since July 2012. Lora holds a doctorate in educational leadership and brings a wealth of knowledge, teaching experience, and expertise in organizational leadership and strategy to this position.

A lifetime educator, Lora has served in variety of roles in public education at the school, district, and university levels. From 2008 to 2012, she served as the Deputy Executive Director of the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. There, Lora was responsible for overseeing PK-12 research, evaluation, and technical assistance programs funded through the US Department of Education’s Regional Educational Laboratory Program and the National Center for Homeless Education Program.

The third of four generations of educators, Lora has also served as a classroom teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent, as well as a District Senior Advisor for the Collaborative for Academic and Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

Over the course of her career, Lora has worked with a wide range of educators on improving schools and student learning outcomes and has received a number of recognitions for her school and district level leadership.

Jazmine Franklin

Chief Program Officer, Fly Five

Jazmine brings an extensive knowledge of program development, as well as classroom experience, to the role of Chief Program Officer for Fly Five Programs. She first joined the Center for Responsive Schools as a consultant and program developer—playing a vital role in the development of Responsive Classroom programs. Prior to her time at CRS she spent six years as a second-grade teacher in Chicago Public Schools, and two years in Guilford County Schools, North Carolina. Jazmine is currently enrolled as a doctoral candidate in educational psychology at Walden University.

Michelle Benson

Chief Professional Learning Officer

Michelle Benson has a wide range of experience as a facilitator and developer of professional development for K-8 educators. Prior to becoming a Chief at the Center for Responsive Schools, she served as a Responsive Classroom professional development designer and full-time consultant working with educators and school districts throughout the United States and the international school community. She began her education career as a middle school English/language arts teacher and served as a secondary curriculum specialist for eight years in a rural school district in North Carolina. Her passion for education has been ensuring all students receive a high-quality education through excellent teaching and learning. Michelle aims to inspire, empower, and transform teachers to understand students’ power and balance of academic, social, and emotional learning.