Busy school boards are locking in experienced and first-time superintendents as the 2025-26 school year approaches.
Superintendent Kristy Somerville-Midgette is taking the lead at Virginia’s Lynchburg City Schools after serving in the top spot at Brunswick County Public Schools since 2018. Somerville-Midgette was previously an administrator in Cumberland County and Mecklenburg County public schools.
Superintendent Justin Irish is swapping districts in Washington. He will take the helm at the Northshore School District after leading the Anacortes School District, where, during five years of leadership, he is credited with strengthening academic achievement, equity, social-emotional learning and community partnerships.
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The St. Johns County School District in Florida named Brennan Asplen its next superintendent. Asplen, the district’s deputy superintendent of operations, previously served as superintendent of Sarasota County Schools on the state’s west coast.
In Michigan, Superintendent Rachel Kowalski takes the helm at Saline Area Schools after leading Colon Community Schools since 2022. The Centennial School District in Pennsylvania chose Abram Lucabaugh as its next leader. Lucabaugh previously served as superintendent of the Central Bucks School District.
In Ohio, Brian Blum was selected to his third superintendency at Northridge Local Schools. Blum has also led Van Buren Local Schools and Maysville Local Schools. Lake Local School District chose its next superintendent, Brett Yeagley, who has led the Canton Local School District since 2021.
Demario A. Strickland was selected to lead Mount Vernon City School District just north of New York City. Strickland is the interim superintendent of Rochester City School District, where he has served in various administrative roles.
First-timers filling the ranks
Several districts promoted their new leaders from within, including Darla Hoover at the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation in Indiana, Gregory Mott at the Poughkeepsie City School District in New York, Sara Newell at Kannapolis City Schools in North Carolina, Travis Ridley at Colonial Heights Public Schools in Virginia and Alicia Sigee at the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District in Texas.
Vanessa Buitrago, an Oakland Unified School District administrator, was named superintendent of Modesto City Schools in California. She has also been an administrator in Sacramento City USD.
More new hires
- Tammy Boone, Weldon City Schools (North Carolina)
- Michael Bostwick, Geneseo Central School District (New York)
- Marlin Campbell, Giles County Public Schools (Virginia)
- Deborah Elder, Rock Hill Schools (South Carolina)
- Stacy Gahan, Hartford Union High School District (Wisconsin)
- Audrey Hazleton, Mancos School District (Colorado)
- Tim Hoffman, Unionville-Chadds Ford School District (Pennsylvania)
- Kerry Johnson, Argos Community Schools (Indiana)
- Jay Larner, New Lothrop Area Public Schools (Michigan)
- Amie Lonas, Rhea County School District (Tennessee)
- Barry Schmidt, Pine Island School District (Minnesota)
- Jami Seay, Geneva City Schools (Alabama)
- Charles Suppon Jr., Wyoming Valley West School District (Pennsylvania)
- John Tafelski, Royal Oak Schools (Michigan)
- Michael Wells, Sayre Area School District (Pennsylvania)
- Amber Whetstine, Lewis-Palmer School District 38 (Colorado)
- Leatha Williams, Pocahontas County Schools (West Virginia)
