Sarah Winchell Lenhoff

Sarah Winchell Lenhoff is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Wayne State University’s College of Education, where she serves as the Leonard Kaplan Endowed Professor and Director of the Detroit Partnership for Education Equity & Research (Detroit PEER). Her work bridges education policy implementation, chronic absenteeism, and school choice, with a focus on equity, continuous improvement, and neighborhood context. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy from Michigan State University (2013), an M.S. in Teaching from Pace University (2006), and a B.A. in English and Women’s Studies from the University of Georgia (2004).

Research Interests

Lenhoff’s research examines systemic barriers to educational equity, including transportation access, housing instability, and punitive attendance policies. She advocates for ecological approaches that connect schools with housing, healthcare, and local government to address root causes of student disengagement. Her work on school choice highlights how privilege shapes access to quality education in Detroit’s fragmented system.

Articles & Grants

• 2025: National study on family work schedules and attendance policy
• 2024: $600,000 William T. Grant Foundation grant for neighborhood transformation research
• 2023: Co-led $442,340 American Institutes for Research project on Detroit’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative
• 2022: $85,000 Kresge Foundation funding for neighborhood change and educational opportunity
• 2021: Co-authored antiblackness in attendance policy with $821,000 Skillman Foundation grant

Advising & Partnerships

As Director of Detroit PEER, she collaborates with Detroit Public Schools Community District, nonprofits, and community organizations to develop attendance improvement strategies that prioritize family support over punishment. While formal student names are not publicly listed, her work involves mentoring graduate researchers, including those contributing to projects on school transportation and summer learning loss.