Lively Technical College Director vacancy has been filled. Here's who the district named.

On July 24, BJ Van Camp, a Leon County educator of over 20 years, will take over as Director of Lively Technical College.

Van Camp will step in behind Shelly Bell, who served as director for six years before recently being named vice president for Workforce Innovation at Tallahassee Community College.

"My goal as the director of Lively Technical College is making sure our young students and adult residents recognize the advantages of attending Lively Technical College and to continue to develop innovative programs resulting in high-paying careers that support our community’s economic development," Van Camp told the Tallahassee Democrat.

As Bell makes the transition to start at TCC on July 24, she replaces Kimberly Moore, who will be leaving TCC after serving in the vice president role for a decade to join Yavapai College in Arizona as its inaugural chief workforce innovation officer.

Along with other applicants for the position, Van Camp was interviewed by a committee before the hire from Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna.

“I am excited for the future of Lively Technical College as we continue to develop innovative workforce pathways for our young LCS students and adult residents in Leon County, giving them the skills they need to compete for jobs in our community. Having served at many different levels of school administration, Ms. Van Camp has the experience, vision and leadership to keep Lively at the forefront of helping students reach their goals and their next step in life,” Hanna said in a statement.

Stepping into the new role, Van Camp leaves her most recent position as assistant principal at Augusta Raa Middle School. Her other K-12 experience includes being assistant principal at Godby High School and principal at Hartsfield Elementary.

Forrest Van Camp is her father-in-law and a well-known powerhouse in Leon County Schools, who served the district for 36 years in multiple capacities including serving on the school board and as principal of Roberts Elementary School.

Van Camp graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in English Education and then earned a Master of Science for Educational Leadership.

“I am thrilled to learn that BJ Van Camp will be the new director of Lively Technical College. I have no doubt she will expand workforce offerings by partnering with the local business community to respond and prepare for the future. I look forward to working with her in the future in my capacity at TCC,” said Bell in a statement

Bell's leadership at Lively Tech helped the school transition from a vocational center to a technical college.

Although TCC strongly opposed the decision to add college to the vocational center's name — with TCC President Jim Murdaugh calling the change a "marketing effort” at the time — the new title was finalized in 2019 as the two schools are situated next to each other on Appleyard Drive and offer a few programs in common, such as welding and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning).

Lively Technical College serves approximately 2,000 students a year and also offers a dual enrollment program with Leon County Schools.

More on Shelly Bell: TCC names Shelly Bell its new vice president of workforce innovation, replacing Kim Moore

Lively Technical Name Change: Over objections of TCC and FSU, Lively Technical Center to become Lively Technical College

LTC's main campus is at 500 N. Appleyard Dr., and it has an aviation campus near the Tallahassee International Airport.

In the fall, LTC's east campus will open in Tallahassee at 283 Trojan Trail with its first programs being central sterile processing technician, nursing assistant, and phlebotomy. It will also offer GED and adult ESOL courses.

Two other new programs being offered at LTC besides central sterile processing technician on its future east campus are massage therapy and plumbing.

Tallahassee Democrat writer Alaijah Brown can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County school district names new Director of Lively Technical College