Michelle Gavel
Uses the pronouns:  She, Hers, & Her

(417) 523-0315

Michelle Gavel M.S., serves as the Director of the Office for Student Access & Opportunity at Springfield Public Schools. In her role, she also works on the Future Educators Program which works closely with Human Resources on recruitment and retention of diverse staff; as well as coordinates the district's Future Educators Program. Michelle received her Bachelors degree in Psychology and Masters in Counseling from Missouri State University. Her professional background includes mental health services, secondary academic enrichment programming, and Financial Aid. Michelle is active in the community serving on many advisory committees and on the Board of Directors for Ujima: Learning and Literacy.

Lisa Searles

(417) 523-0315

Lisa Searles serves as the Executive Secretary to the Office for Student Access & Opportunity for Springfield Public Schools. In her role, she helps with the daily tasks of the office and any projects that the team is working on. She is originally from Seward, Nebraska, moved to Nixa, Missouri in 1992, lived in Springfield, Missouri since 2005, and has moved back to Nixa..  Lisa has a daughter and a grandson who live with her. She enjoys reading, crafting and spending time with family and friends.

Lawrence (LA) Anderson

(417) 523-0315

Lawrence Anderson (L.A.) is a Coordinator with the Office for Student Access & Opportunity at Springfield Public Schools, where his primary focus is to help diverse students and families navigate the educational system and implement programs that empower and support diverse student experiences. L.A. also provides professional learning to staff and students within the district to increase their level of cultural consciousness.  L.A. is starting his eighth year with SPS, and spent 16 years at Drury University - twelve years coaching women's volleyball and four years in student affairs as the Coordinator of Disability and Diversity Support Services.  He is a native of St. Louis and was part of the desegregation program at Parkway South High School, where he graduated in 1988. He received a bachelors degree in recreation from Missouri State University, and a Masters in education with emphasis in human services from Drury University. L.A. has also completed conflict resolution and mediation training through Missouri State University's Center for Conflict Resolution, and is a certified diversity trainer.

Gwen Marshall

(417) 523-0315

Gwendolyn J Marshall M.Ed. serves as a Coordinator in the Office for Student Access & Opportunity for Springfield Public Schools.  In her role, she provides support to student programs with specific responsibilities for identifying and assisting with available services through the community and within SPS; she ensures effective communication and service delivery to students in a timely manner and conveys information to students and families regarding program activities and/or procedures.  She is responsible for building capacity by participating in a variety of meetings, workshops and committees (e.g. Form B hearings, minority organization meetings to perform key responsibilities and functions for SPS). Gwen is responsible for writing relevant educational articles for Unite of SW Missouri and SMORE publications for Elementary Educators in the R-12 district. 

She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Drury University and received her Masters degree in Education Human Services from Drury in 2011. She was born in Jackson, Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and has lived in Springfield, Missouri for over fifty-three years. She has four children.

Gwen is the chairwoman for the Black History Summer Academy (a weeklong event of teaching African American History) and the Aryia (a rites of passage event for African American/Black female graduates and their escorts). Black History Summer Academy is a partnership with SPS, Drury University and the Springfield community.  One of her favorite things about working with her team is an opportunity to collectively reach and influence the lives of all students with an emphasis on the underrepresented and underserved students of our community. She enjoys traveling, the company of her friends, as an ordained minister she preaches and teaches, spending time with her family, and particularly her grandchildren and great grandchild.

Rachel Love-Jones
Uses the pronouns:  She, Hers, & Her

(417) 523-0315

Rachel E. Love-Jones serves as a Coordinator in the Office for Student Success & Opportunity for Springfield Public Schools.  In her role, she works closely with the Learning Development team to help establish culturally relevant, empathetic curriculum which better reflects the student make-up of SPS R-12 children and families and she provides resources and training for responsive teaching practices.  Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education and TESOL and a Masters of Educational Leadership from Drury University, as well as a CELTA certificate from Cambridge University English.  She previously served as an English Language Learner Specialist in Springfield Public Schools, establishing new K-5 ELL programs at three schools.  Rachel next taught ELLs and AP Literature at ICSB International School in Budapest, Hungary, serving one semester as Interim Director of ELL Services, before returning to Springfield to work at Missouri State University International Programs, English Language Institute, as a Teacher Training Specialist, where she developed curriculum and internships for international educators from various countries. Rachel enjoys frequent travel, visiting many countries over five continents and holding teaching engagements in four countries (South Korea, Hungary, Columbia, and Kenya), and enjoys family, literature, and hiking.