Suzanna Davis, principal for Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, is leaving for employment outside of Lakota Schools.
And Gary “Elgin” Card, principal of Lakota West High School in West Chester Township for the last eight years, is taking a position in the district’s central office.
Their former schools are among the top 15 largest enrollments of all Ohio high schools. Lakota East has 2,325 students and Lakota West 2,221.
Matt Miller, superintendent of Lakota Schools, said the two will be missed as principals but their legacies have made the 16,800-student district stronger.
Card, who was Lakota’s first Black high school principal in Lakota’s history, will was named to the Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, overseeing the Lakota Outreach Diversity and Inclusion department, also known as LODI.
“Mr. Card’s passion for creating a culture of inclusion will make him an asset in this area for our district,” said Miller.
Card did not respond to emailed requests to comment but on Facebook he wrote “I love Lakota West my kids, my parents, my community!!! “
“However I will not be far as I have accepted the position of Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion for the Lakota Local School District!!! I appreciate all the support throughout the years and look forward to serving not only my West Kids, but all the kids in our district!!,” Card wrote.
Davis, who took over the top position at Lakota East in 2012, will be taking on a director’s position with Grant Us Hope, effective Aug. 1.
The Cincinnati-based organization has brought the peer-to-peer suicide prevention program called Hope Squad to not only Lakota, but to more than 100 schools throughout the state.
As the director of programming for Grant Us Hope, Mrs. Davis will focus on the educational programming related to the work of Hope Squad.
Davis also did not respond to requests to comment but on her Twitter account wrote: “Excited to announce I have accepted a position as Director of Programming (at Grant Us Hope). I am passionate about this work and look forward to working with (Hope Squads).”
She added Lakota East “will forever hold a special place in my heart. It is time to spread my Thunderhawk (the school’s mascot) wings and fly.”
Miller said the district has already begun its search for new principals.
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