SOUTHFIELD, MI, January 09, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Lanissa L. Freeman, PhD, has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Freeman has established a distinguished career in education, marked by nearly three decades of service, leadership, and advocacy across preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. Since 2023, she has served as the deputy superintendent for Southfield Public Schools, where she provides instructional leadership and strategic oversight across the district. In this role, she supports teaching and learning, supervises the Head Start and Great Start programs, and advances a shared vision of equity and academic excellence.

Currently, Dr. Freeman oversees the district's leadership team, including principals, assistant principals and the executive director of curriculum and instruction, as well as the center-based program for students with disabilities. Her responsibilities extend to administrator evaluations, recruitment and enrollment initiatives, curriculum budget management, and the design and facilitation of administrator professional learning series. She is an active participant in the intermediate school district's Teaching and Learning Council and has cultivated strong partnerships with colleges and universities to support student teaching placements and expand postsecondary opportunities for students.

Prior to her current role, Dr. Freeman was appointed executive director of special education for Southfield Public Schools in 2017, a position she continues to provide direct support. In this capacity, she has been responsible for monitoring academic and behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities while ensuring compliance, access, and continuous improvement. She has provided direct support to students, staff, and families and collaborated closely with district administrators to create and sustain a shared vision of inclusive and equitable practices.

Dr. Freeman has been instrumental in developing partnerships that serve both private and public educational institutions within the community, including a robust collaboration with Jewish schools. One of her most notable accomplishments during this tenure was establishing a lending system for families of children with special needs. Inspired by a parent's request for access to specialized toys at affordable prices, Dr. Freeman secured grant funding to launch the initiative, providing families with meaningful and accessible resources tailored to their children's unique developmental needs.

Since 2000, Dr. Freeman has been the owner and executive director of The T.E.S.S. Group, a consulting organization dedicated to addressing educational challenges through comprehensive professional learning for teachers, parents, administrators and paraprofessionals. Her work includes cognitive coaching, Adaptive Schools training, Taking Flight with DISC facilitation, strategic planning and adult learning models designed to support both general and special education environments.

Dr. Freeman is widely recognized for her expertise in professional learning, adult education strategies, and equipping leaders with practical tools to support staff effectiveness and student achievement. Through The T.E.S.S. Group, she extends her impact beyond traditional school settings by conducting training for churches, Sunday school programs, and private daycare centers, ensuring educators are prepared to engage learners with diverse needs.

From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Freeman served as early childhood and elementary special education supervisor for Birmingham Public Schools. In this role, she played a pivotal part in developing the district's first blended preschool program, PEEP, which integrated students with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers through a co-teaching model led by general and special education teachers. She also facilitated professional learning, supported families, and collaborated with district leaders to advance inclusive practices.

Between 2011 and 2013, Dr. Freeman served as special education director for Oak Park School District. There, she introduced co-teaching models that enabled students with disabilities to remain in general education classrooms while receiving high-quality instruction from two teachers working collaboratively. She monitored student outcomes, provided direct support to families and staff, facilitated monthly professional learning, and revitalized the Parent Advisory Committee to increase family engagement.

Earlier in her career, Dr. Freeman held several leadership and instructional roles within Detroit Public Schools, beginning in 1997 as a first-grade teacher and later serving as a literacy coach, special education supervisor, and instructional specialist in literacy. She taught every grade except second and worked extensively in center-based programs supporting students with severe cognitive impairments. As a literacy coach and instructional specialist, she partnered closely with teachers to strengthen reading instruction and improve student outcomes across the district.

Before entering the field of education, Dr. Freeman spent seven years as a universal customer consultant at Ameritech Cellular while attending college. In this role, she traveled throughout Michigan consulting with retail locations on customer service practices, an experience that strengthened her communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.

Dr. Freeman's academic credentials include a Doctor of Philosophy in curriculum and instruction from Wayne State University, earned in 2011, an educational specialist certificate in general supervision, and a Master of Arts in educational leadership and administration from Wayne State University, completed in 1999. Earlier, she earned a bachelor's degree in cognitive impairments and special education from Wayne State University awarded in 1997. She has also completed advanced professional learning through Yale University's School Development Program and the Harvard National Institute for Urban School Leaders.

Throughout her career, Dr. Freeman has been recognized for her expertise in professional learning communities, adult learner engagement, data-informed decision-making, and providing actionable strategies for educators and leaders. She is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., the Teaching and Learning Council of Oakland County Schools, and Special Education Administrators of Oakland County. Additionally, she is affiliated with the Michigan Council for Exceptional Children.

Dr. Freeman's civic involvement is extensive. She serves on the Wildlife Committee advisory board for the City of Southfield, volunteers with Gleaners Community Food Bank, and actively participates in fundraising and service initiatives through Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., including scholarship fundraising, March of Dimes donations, Operation Big Book Bag, and other education-focused projects.

In recognition of her outstanding leadership and contributions to the field of special education, Dr. Freeman received the Greg Gwisdalla Award from Special Education Administrators of Oakland County in 2020. Her scholarly contributions include authoring "Effective Language Arts Teachers of Urban African American Middle School Students in the Greater Detroit Area," published by ProQuest Dissertations in 2011.

Outside her professional commitments, Dr. Freeman enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, participating in wildlife commissions, and birdwatching in her backyard. She is also deeply committed to her family. Looking ahead, Dr. Freeman aims to further advance inclusive practices by developing university-level coursework that equips future educators with a deeper understanding of diverse learner needs across all subject areas, ensuring equitable access and opportunity for every child, regardless of identification or label.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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