MEMSPA Staff
The MEMSPA staff is here to support your leadership journey.
Dr. Shanna Spickard
Executive DirectorPhone: (517) 694-8955
Email: shanna@memspa.org
Dr. Spickard has dedicated over 25 years to education, spending nearly two decades serving as a building and district leader. Having served as MEMSPA President (2015-16), she returns with deep institutional knowledge and an unwavering commitment to supporting school principals through leadership development, advocacy, and collaboration.
Dr. Spickard most recently served as Chief Communications Officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina and previously as Superintendent of DeWitt Public Schools. Her leadership journey also includes serving as a building principal for 15 years.
She earned her Doctorate and Educational Specialist degrees in Educational Leadership from Eastern Michigan University, Master’s degree in Communication from Michigan State University, and Bachelor’s degrees in Education and Communication from Ohio University.
Kimberly Gillow
Phone: (517) 694-8955
Email: kimberly@memspa.org
Kimberly serves as the Associate Executive Director for MEMSPA. She aims to empower, support and celebrate our school leaders, while representing MEMSPA at the state and national level in a way that promotes continuous improvement in our schools.
Prior to working with the MEMSPA team, she worked as a public school educator for 27 years in the roles of a speech-language pathologist, a teacher, a literacy interventionist, an instructional coach and an administrator. In 2023, she retired from the public schools as the Principal of North Creek Elementary in Chelsea. Kimberly graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree, double majoring in Elementary Education and Speech-Language Pathology and masters’ degrees in Speech-Language Pathology and Educational Leadership. She worked as a literacy consultant for National Geographic Kids and held many MEMSPA positions in her region including: President, President-Elect and Treasurer.
Jessa Bye
Office & Communications SpecialistPhone: (517) 694-8955
Email: jessa@memspa.org
Jessa Bye is MEMSPA's Office and Communications Specialist, contributing her background in both education and communications to MEMSPA's mission. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Writing from Columbia College, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Christian Brothers University, and completed a graduate certificate program in Strategic Communications at Michigan State University. She also served as a Teach For America corps member in Memphis, TN.
Before joining MEMSPA, Jessa spent her career weaving together her passions for writing, learning, and leadership. Her professional experiences include literary and textbook publishing, classroom teaching, teacher training, curriculum development, corporate training design and nonprofit communications.
Jessa supports MEMSPA’s work through content creation, member engagement, strategic communications, and day-to-day office operations, connecting with school leaders across Michigan.
Becky Hager
Phone: (517) 694-8955
Email: becky@memspa.org
Becky Hager is a recently retired principal with more than 30 years of experience in education, including roles as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and ad hoc professor of children’s literature at Spring Arbor University. She began her administrative career at East Jackson Elementary, where she served as both assistant principal and principal, leading her school through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2024, Becky returned to her home district—where she had previously spent 22 years as both a student and educator—to serve as principal of Elmwood Elementary in Waverly Community Schools. Her career came full circle as she served in every elementary school in the district in roles including student, teacher, and principal.
Becky holds both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Spring Arbor University. She has been an active MEMSPA member, serving as Region 3 secretary, president-elect, and DEI representative, and most recently as Region 8 president prior to her retirement.
Becky remains passionate about supporting school leaders across Michigan through strengthening professional connections, growing MEMSPA membership, and fostering meaningful partnerships.