Michelle Keiffer

Micelle Keiffer headshot

Michelle Keiffer

Assistant Head of School

Associate Level Orton-Gillingham Practitioner

Education 

  • Oklahoma State University – B.A. in Political Science/Law, Minor in English

  • Graduate Studies – MBA coursework at Auburn University and Texas A&M

Why I Love Sandhills

“Sandhills changed the life of my child. I know first-hand that the work that happens on this campus matters and feel an obligation and a calling to make the same difference for other families.”

Michelle’s path to Sandhills was shaped by her personal journey as a parent. After relocating to South Carolina, she discovered that the public education system wasn’t meeting the needs of her sons, both diagnosed with dyslexia. What started as a search for answers led her to the Dyslexia Resource Center, where she trained under OG Fellow Janet Jones and later became Director of Operations. During her time there, she led a successful rebrand, trained local tutors, and co-developed the R.I.S.E. curriculum.

Through her work and her connection to a Sandhills board member, Michelle’s youngest son enrolled at Sandhills—and Michelle joined shortly after. She brought with her not only personal experience, but a professional background in organizational leadership and a passion for helping students rediscover their confidence and capabilities.

Michelle Keiffer running through tunnel of cheerleaders

Why I Enjoy Working with Students with Dyslexia

“It is such a blessing to ME to get to see a child get their 'spark' back as they realize that they ARE smart, and they ARE capable—they just need to learn in a different way!”

Michelle finds it incredibly rewarding to witness students regain confidence and discover their potential through the Sandhills approach.

What I Value About the Sandhills Community

Michelle cherishes the strong partnership between teachers, administrators, families, and students. “Everyone is working together with a common goal of best serving each individual child based on where they are at a given moment in time.”

Favorite School Tradition

Awards Day: Michelle loves seeing students of all ages recognized not just for academic success, but for being truly seen and celebrated for who they are. “They aren’t receiving participation trophies, but real acknowledgment for living into who they were created to be.”

Life Outside of School

Michelle enjoys early mornings with coffee at sunrise on the Lake Murray Dam and strolling through Soda City. When it comes to dining out, one of her go-to spots is Cantina 76 for its relaxed atmosphere and great food.