TAVARES – Several Lake County schools will operate under new leadership next school year, Superintendent Diane Kornegay has announced.
Reshonda Scott has been named principal at Leesburg High School. She started with Lake County Schools in 2012 as an English Language Arts teacher, then went on to be named a dean at Triangle Elementary School, an assistant principal at Windy Hill Middle, and curriculum administrator at East Ridge High School. After being named Lake County's Assistant Principal of the Year in December 2025, she was recently awarded the honor of being named Florida's 2026 Assistant Principal of the Year. Ms. Scott is excited to embark on the journey of entering the 2026-27 school year as Leesburg High School's Principal.
Andrea Pyatt is stepping into the role of principal at Cecil E. Gray Middle School to fill the vacancy left by Melissa Frana, who accepted a position as principal at South Sumter High School. Ms. Pyatt began her career at South Lake High School as a science teacher. She spent a couple of years at Leesburg High and one year at Mount Dora High, teaching all subjects of science before leading the Gates Foundation Professional Learning work at the district level. After working for several years with teachers and leaders, Ms. Pyatt moved on to the role of assistant principal at Umatilla High, where she served the Umatilla community for four years. Ms. Pyatt continued to serve as principal of Umatilla Middle until about a year and a half ago, when she moved to the position of principal at Leesburg High. Ms. Pyatt is grateful to have been a part of the transition at LHS, but she is thrilled to return to the Groveland area where her teaching career began. She is looking forward to continuing to build upon the outstanding work that is happening at Gray Middle.
Kevin Schichtel is joining Tavares Elementary School as principal, bringing 19 years of dedicated service with Lake County Schools, having served as a teacher, instructional dean, assistant principal, and, most recently, as the district threat management coordinator in the Lake County Schools Safety and Security Department. Throughout his career, Mr. Schichtel has demonstrated a strong commitment to student achievement, school safety, instructional excellence, and building positive relationships with students, staff, and families. He is excited to continue supporting a collaborative and successful school community in this new leadership role. He will fill the vacancy left by Principal Stacia Warner, who will take on a new leadership position within the district.
Dr. Venessa King is taking over as principal at Eustis Heights Elementary School. She is currently the principal at Treadway Elementary and is a leader with more than 25 years of experience in public education. Dr. King joined Lake County Schools during the 2000–2001 school year and spent 15 years at Clermont Elementary School, where she served as a classroom teacher and instructional leader. Before becoming an administrator, she taught for 16 years and proudly considers herself “a teacher first.” This perspective continues to shape her leadership as she works alongside teachers and students to support learning and growth. Under her leadership, she and her team led Treadway Elementary from a C rating to an A rating in just one year; the school’s first A since 2012. Known for her high-energy and hands-on leadership style, Dr. King is excited to join the team at Eustis Heights Elementary.
Luke Freeze is stepping in as principal at Treadway Elementary School and he is excited to join the Treadway family and continue serving the greater Leesburg community. He began his career at Leesburg High School during the 2011–2012 school year, teaching science courses and coaching a variety of sports for more than 10 years. After beginning his leadership journey as an assistant principal at East Ridge Middle School, he returned to the Leesburg area and has proudly served Oak Park Middle School for the past three years. Mr. Freeze is passionate about building relationships, supporting students, and creating a positive school culture where everyone can thrive. He is honored to become a Treadway Bear and looks forward to an amazing year filled with growth, success, and school pride.
Michelle Coleman is excited to join the team as principal at Triangle Elementary School, filling the vacancy that will be left by Noris Aguayo, who has made the difficult decision to take an early retirement. Ms. Coleman has proudly served in Lake County Schools since 2004. During her time in the classroom, she taught 3rd- and 5th-grade students. In 2014, she transitioned into the role of curriculum resource teacher, where she further developed her passion for instructional leadership and supporting teachers. In January of 2023, she began serving as assistant principal at Tavares Middle School. She is deeply grateful for the experiences and opportunities that have shaped her leadership journey and prepared her for this next chapter.
Randy Campbell has been named principal at Eustis Elementary School, filling the vacancy that will be left by Reanna Boardway, who has decided to pursue another career opportunity. Mr. Campbell brings with him 31 years of educational experience and a strong commitment to student achievement, school safety, and building positive relationships with students, staff, and families. He previously served as assistant principal at Tavares High School, where he demonstrated strong leadership and dedication to supporting student success.
"I am confident that these leaders will bring valuable experience, dedication and strong commitment to excellence to their new assignments," Superintendent Diane Kornegay said in an announcement to employees about the changes. "We also extend our sincere appreciation to those administrators who are moving on to new professional and personal opportunities."