Lakota Local Schools Announces Superintendent Finalists
Lakota Local Schools Announces Superintendent Finalists
The search for the next superintendent of Lakota Local Schools continues to move forward, with the Board of Education partnering with national education recruiting firm Finding Leaders to guide the process.
In line with the community input gathered over the last year, the Board is seeking an experienced school administrator who will support the district’s mission and vision and possesses a range of qualities, including being a champion for public education, a proven visionary, an instructional leader and having legislative advocacy experience at all levels.
“We were very impressed by the extensive outreach by Finding Leaders,” said Board President Julie Shaffer. “After our initial interviews, two candidates stood out to the Board: Suzanna Davis and Ashley Whitely. Both candidates bring a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to public education, making them excellent choices for the next superintendent of Lakota Local Schools.”
The Candidates
Suzanna Davis currently serves as the Senior Director of Student Services at Middletown City Schools in Middletown, Ohio. Her previous years of administrative experience in public education include roles as an assistant principal, associate principal and principal in addition to a leadership role to expand the reach of “Grant Us Hope,” a national suicide prevention program. Most recently, she has increased personalized student support by revitalizing special education service delivery. Davis has also participated in the high school redesign initiative, integrating workforce development and practical skills into the curriculum. She drove transformative instructional change, leveraging data analytics to significantly boost student academic performance. Previously, she served as the principal at Lakota East High School, where she amplified student voice by creating an empowering school environment that valued different perspectives and experiences.
Ashley Whitely currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent at Wyoming City Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her previous years of administrative experience in public education include roles as an assistant principal and principal. Most recently, she has co-developed a Strategic Plan and the complementing “Attributes of a Learner” to articulate the five-year vision after engaging stakeholders to gather input. Whitely has led and supported principals in implementing curriculum changes to assess school performance and improvement initiatives to increase student performance and success. She has also developed new student pathways and opportunities for future success through the Business Advisory Council (BAC). Whitely also taught English and served as the department chair at Lakota East High School for five years.
Next Steps
Following the proven process Finding Leaders brings to the search, the Board has invited members of the Lakota community to participate in a final round of interviews on May 1 and 2. About 45 participants will represent staff, parents, students, administrators, community members and business professionals. Each group will designate one spokesperson to ask the candidates questions that they collectively develop while the other participants, including the Board, will observe. Each candidate will then have a final interview with the Board.
The Board aims to hire a new superintendent by mid-May, allowing for a transition period with Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli before officially starting on Aug. 1.
- superintendent