Lakota’s 2 high schools will get new principals for 2020-21 school year

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The leaders of two of Butler County’s largest high schools are leaving their positions for other jobs.

Suzanna Davis, principal for Lakota East High School in Liberty Twp., is leaving for employment outside of Lakota Schools.

Gary “Elgin” Card, principal of Lakota West High School in West Chester Twp., 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 has 2,221.

Matt Miller, superintendent of Lakota Schools, praised both departing principals for strengthening the 16,800-student district.

Suzanna Davis, principal for Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, is leaving for employment outside of Lakota Schools. 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.(File Photos/Journal-News)

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Card, who was Lakota’s first Black high school principal, was named to the Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, overseeing the Lakota Outreach Diversity and Inclusion department, also known as LODI.

Card will begin his new job Aug. 1.

“Mr. Card’s passion for creating a culture of inclusion will make him an asset in this area for our district,” said Miller.

Lakota West High School principal G. Elgin Card stands in the hall of the school in West Chester Township. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

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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, said Miller.

Miller said the district has already begun its search for new principals.

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