Republic schools hire principal, special education leaders
The Republic school board recently announced the new Lyon Elementary principal and new leadership in the district special education department.
Erin Wayt, assistant principal at Price Elementary since 2016, will be the next leader at Lyon. She will start July 1.
Wayt has spent her entire 12-year career at Republic, where she taught kindergarten and second grade. She has a specialist degree in education administration.
She leads the district’s student teacher internship program, a partnership with Missouri State University, and collaborates with community members through her work with Locker 518 and Price Tag.
Wayt and her husband have two daughters in the district. A search for her replacement at Price has started.
The board recently tapped Lauren Goddard to serve as director of special education during the next school year. She had been the assistant director since July 2022.
Goddard will step into the role after the retirement of Meredith Morris.
Before joining the Republic district, Goddard was director of special services in the Pleasant Hill district. She has a doctorate in education leadership.
According to a news release, Goddard has developed and implemented special education curriculum and processes during her 14-year career.
More:Nixa Public Schools names new principals for junior high, Inman Intermediate
Lindsey Lovekamp, who is assistant director of Project Access, was named the assistant director of special education for the Republic district.
Project Access is a statewide support program for school districts, focusing on autism and related developmental disabilities.
Lovekamp has eight years of experience as a special education teacher and three years as an autism resource specialist.
She has a master's degree in special education in autism spectrum disorders and is pursuing a specialist degree in special education and assessment as well as a master's degree in education.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Republic schools hire principal, special education leaders
