After an extensive search, Lakota Local Schools welcomes Dr. Ashley Whitely as its new Superintendent as preparations are being made for the 2024-25 school year. As a Liberty Township resident, parent to a Lakota student and former English teacher and department chair at Lakota East, Whitely is not new to the district. She returns to lead the team with experience and enthusiasm for both students and staff. Meet Dr. Ashley Whitely.
How does it feel to return to Lakota?
“In some ways I never left! I'm a Lakota community member and it's wonderful to be home—to have your professional and personal life all in the same place. I grew up in southwestern Kentucky and I remember when we first moved to Ohio, that excitement of being at Lakota as a place of excellence, with its warmth and inviting qualities. To return to that and be able to help grow our excellence and lead our district into the next iteration of ourselves is super exciting.”
Why public education?
“I grew up in a family of public educators. In fact, everybody in my family is a teacher except for my father. Public education is just part of who I am. My mother would give me her old gradebook and I’d play school. I’m an only child, so I would teach imaginary children. It's in my DNA. In public education, ‘all’ means all—public education is about every student growing and every student learning. I want to make sure that every student is reaching their full potential, not just achieving but growing.”
What are you most excited about as you take on this new position?
“I’m most excited about the opportunity to re-energize and revitalize the culture. Culture is critical to any organization, particularly a school district. I’m eager to build a very positive and welcoming work environment where students and staff can grow and thrive. Data and test results start to really take root and blossom when you get the culture right. I’m excited to work with the team to build a positive culture so that staff and students are heard, feel valued and know that they're growing.” LakotaOnline.com
“At the top of my résumé—it has been there since my very first teaching job—it says, ‘Every leader a teacher, every teacher a leader, every student a success.’ I want everybody to understand their own leadership opportunities and move in the same direction.”