LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Lansing School District has announced current First Deputy Superintendent Jessica Benavides will assume the role of interim superintendent following the departure of current superintendent Ben Shuldiner at the end of January next year.
Last week, the school board agreed to enter into negotiations with Benavides, and at Thursday’s meeting, they approved her contract, formalizing her appointment to the role. Her first day is Feb. 1, 2026.
“The opportunity to serve the Lansing School District as Superintendent is an honor,” said Benavides. “I look forward to leading alongside our staff and families to ensure the positive momentum across the district continues and that our students remain at the center of every decision we make.”
According to the district, Benavides has “district-level leadership experience overseeing academic programs, operations, and staff development” and has sufficient credentials in school leadership. As First Deputy Superintendent, the district says she has focused on “instructional improvement, organizational stability, and student-centered decision-making.”…