Lakeshore Public Schools is losing two of its longtime administrators.
High School Principal Jeff Yauchstetter and assistant superintendent/curriculum director July Powell will both be leaving the district at the end of this school year.
Yauchstetter has been with the district in both teaching and administrative roles since 2005, and will begin a new role as assistant superintendent of innovation and personalized learning at Berrien Springs Schools.
In a statement released by the district last week, Yauchstetter said leaving Lakeshore Public Schools is bittersweet.
“As both a teacher and a principal, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how special Lakeshore is as a district,” said Yauchstetter, in the release. “Lakeshore is more than just a place of education; it is a community that fosters growth, creativity and resilience. From the dedicated staff to the enthusiastic students, Lakeshore is truly a special place. While I am sad to leave, I am grateful for the memories and experiences that will stay with me forever and have helped shape me.”
Powell, who has been in her position since 2012, has accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Ball State University.
“I can’t express enough how I loved my work at Lakeshore,” said Powell, in the release. “It has always been about the students and the people you get to work with. I will always love and support Lancer Nation. Public education can be hard and even with all of the challenges, I still believe it is the most important profession and I couldn’t be more honored to have served as a public educator.”
During Monday’s Lakeshore School Board meeting, Superintendent Greg Eding and Board President Rachel Wade thanked both administrators.
“Julie, thank you for your time at Lakeshore,” Wade said. “You’ve done important things here, most notably within the HR role that you fulfill – especially in the last few years as districts around us have struggled and often gone without filling key teaching positions. Lakeshore hasn’t had that. You’ve been able to keep us very well staffed. …
“Jeff, you’ve helped empower students to play an active role, not only in their own education, but also in the life of the community and the world around them, and that’s a really important thing to teach our students. It’s obvious that you care about them and their success very deeply, so thank you.”
Eding said the search to replace both positions will begin shortly.
“Change can be very hard,” he said. “Filling these two important roles will be a very high priority for us over the next few weeks. I’m excited to build this new team.”
