Rebecca Tompkins is back at Lakota Local Schools.
The district announced Wednesday that Tompkins will serve as executive director of curriculum and instruction, the top academic leadership post for southwest Ohio's largest suburban school district. The announcement lands just two weeks before 17,000 students return Thursday, August 13.
"Returning to Lakota feels like coming home," Tompkins said in the district's announcement. "I am excited to partner with our talented teachers and staff to give every student the tools they need to succeed."
Tompkins' career in Lakota began in 2008, when she joined the district as a curriculum specialist after working as a classroom teacher. She later spent five years as director of curriculum and instruction at Ross Local Schools before taking the same executive director title at Sycamore Community Schools in 2021.
At Sycamore, she led districtwide intervention and instructional support programs. In her new role at Lakota, she will oversee core academic programs, manage classroom materials selection and direct the district's use of student performance data to guide instruction, according to the district's announcement.
Tompkins replaces Lori Brown, who was named executive director of pupil services in a separate announcement June 3. Brown served Lakota students for nearly two decades, most recently in the curriculum post Tompkins now holds.
The leadership change comes as the district prepares for a busy fall. As we reported July 25, the Lakota school board placed a $223 million bond issue on the November ballot with no tax increase for homeowners. Tompkins will be the administrator responsible for the academic programming side of any facilities and resource decisions that follow.
Back-to-school calendar
- Tuesday, August 11 — Open house for early childhood schools (grades K–2) and elementary schools (grades 3–6)
- Wednesday, August 12 — Preschool open house
- Thursday, August 13 — First day of school for all students
Families can find the full back-to-school checklist at the Lakota back-to-school hub.
