People Watch
School Administrator, April 2022


Lance R. Hansen

The new superintendent for the 4,800-student Lewiston School District in Lewiston, Idaho, Lance Hansen, is in his 30th year as a professional educator. Hansen spent the past 14 years in Lewiston, serving eight years as assistant superintendent following assignments as high school principal and assistant principal at two schools. Prior to moving to Lewiston, he was a teacher for 15 years at high schools in Emmett and Moscow, both in Idaho. A native of the Gem State, Hansen joined AASA as a member in 2014.
 
 

 
 
Phillip T. Herman

Following an eight-year run in the superintendency of Hudson, Ohio, Phillip Herman is a new principal with The Impact Group, a communications firm in Hudson that offers services to school districts and local governments. In the Hudson district, Herman earlier was the assistant superintendent for five years and director of human resources for three years. Previously, he worked as superintendent and assistant superintendent for the Lakewood Local School District in Hebron, Ohio. Herman began in Hebron as an alternative learning coordinator. He is a seven-year AASA member.
 

  

 
Judith A. LaRocca

After six years as the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, Judith LaRocca has been named superintendent in Valley Stream, N.Y. For nine years, LaRocca was director of curriculum, instruction and technology in the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District in New Hyde Park, N.Y. She began her teaching career in 1996 as a middle school mathematics teacher in Massapequa, N.Y. LaRocca earned her Ed.D. from St. John’s University, and she has been an AASA member since 2020.
 
 

 
 
 
Jennifer Mitchell

Jennifer Mitchell is the new superintendent in Huntingdon, Pa., where earlier in her career she held several positions, including site administrator and library media specialist. Most recently, she was assistant superintendent in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Mitchell previously spent four years as coordinator of curriculum, instruction and professional development and two years as a lead elementary principal in the Mifflin County School District in Lewistown, Pa. She began as a kindergarten teacher. Mitchell has been an AASA member since 2020.
 
 

 
Naomi Norman

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District in Ann Arbor, Mich., has selected Naomi Norman as its new superintendent. Norman has spent almost two decades in the district in various posts, including interim superintendent, assistant superintendent, executive director of achievement initiatives for Washtenaw School District and Livingston Educational Service Agency and director of assessment, planning and research. Early in her career, she was the media center director and technology coordinator at the St. Francis of Assisi School in Ann Arbor, Mich. Norman has been a member of AASA for two years.
 



Lisa Remy

The School Administrators of Iowa has named Lisa Remy as its new executive director. Remy has been superintendent in West Des Moines, Iowa, since 2013 and had filled several other posts in the district, including associate superintendent of human resources and principal. She began her education career as a Spanish teacher in Hudson, Iowa, and held two principalships in that district. An AASA member since 2006, Remy received her Ed.D. in educational administration from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
 




APPOINTMENTS
Donald E. Fennoy II, from superintendent, Palm Beach County School District, West Palm Beach, Fla., to superintendent-in-residence, BookNook, Oakland, Calif.
Millard House, from superintendent, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, Clarksville, Tenn., to superintendent, Houston, Texas
Steven J. Maloney, from assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and administration to superintendent, Bay Shore, N.Y.
Mike Rockwood, from deputy superintendent, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District, Rosenberg, Texas, to superintendent, Lake Dallas, Texas
David Younce, from superintendent, Mill River Unified Union School District, Arlington, Vt., to senior vice president for K-12 partnerships, AM LLC, Leesburg, Va.
 
RETIREMENTS
Judy Baseman, superintendent, Appleton, Wis.
Deena Bishop, superintendent, Anchorage, Alaska
Anthony Day, superintendent, Sweet Home Central School District, Amherst, N.Y.
Robert Downs, superintendent, Buford, Ga.
Jim Mepham, superintendent, Eureka, Mont.
Edward Niznik, superintendent, Adirondack Central School District, Boonville, N.Y.
Joseph Pye, superintendent, Dorchester District 2, Summerville, S.C.
Michael Radday, superintendent, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
Daniel Roach, superintendent, Washington, Ind.
Kevin Rogers, superintendent, Lewisville, Texas
Xernona J. Thomas, superintendent, Clarke County School District, Athens, Ga.
 
 
HONOR
Avis Williams, superintendent, Selma, Ala., honored with Harold L. Bishop Award for Leaders from the Capstone Education Society, University of Alabama College of Education
 
DEATHS
Matthew Mann, 49, superintendent, Pleasanton, Texas, Nov. 20
Michael A. Schafer, 79, retired superintendent, Charter Oak-Ute, Iowa, Oct. 24
Dean Toepfer, 84, retired superintendent, Columbia, Conn., Jan. 25
Dale Weeks, 78, retired superintendent, Seymour, Iowa, Nov. 28
James A. Williams, 77, retired superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools, Buffalo, N.Y., Nov. 17
 
News about AASA members’ promotions, retirements, honors and deaths should be addressed to: Editor, School Administrator, 1615 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Fax: 703-841-1543. E-mail: magazine@aasa.org