(LAGRANGE) – The Lakeland Board of Education looked to one of their own to fill a leadership role.

Monday night, the Lakeland School Board voted unanimously to hire Dr. Traci Blaize to be the Corporation’s interim Superintendent. Blaize has been the Principal at Lakeland Primary School, and actually had been a candidate once before for the Superintendent’s position. LINKC.

Blaize says she’s been working hard to make sure she is ready for the upcoming school year, and thanks the Lakeland Education Association for getting her up to speed on several matters.

The Lakeland School Board announced July 26 that Dr. Gregory Baker had resigned as Superintendent. Baker was hired in April of 2021 following a two round process, and officially started July 1 of that year.

Prior to coming to Lakeland, Baker he had been a teacher, an assistant principal, and a high school principal. No reason was given for Baker’s resignation.