Kianta Bankston is a native Detroiter, a proud graduate of Cass Technical High School, and attended Wayne State University for her undergraduate studies. She continued to earn both her Master of Arts in Teaching from Oakland University and her Educational Specialist from Wayne State University. Dedicated to DPSCD, she has taught for twelve years and was the school improvement coach for two years before transitioning to her administrative role. This year marks her twenty second year with DPSCD and is proud to serve as the principal of Denby High School. She collaborates with her team to assure students receive a high-quality education and that teachers are implementing a high quality curriculum. She believes that the key to creating this foundation is through building strong relationships with the staff, students, families and partners. With her deep-rooted commitment to student success and her multifaceted expertise, she has played a pivotal role in fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment for the lives she has touched our the years.

Her educational philosophy is that all students can learn and have a right to a high-quality education, given a positive learning environment, a committed team of educators, the right tools, experiences, and learning opportunities.