The Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved her appointment, effective Aug. 1, based on the recommendation of Superintendent Karen Mantia. She will earn $100,000 a year, according to her two-year contract.
Davis, 36, has been a leader in helping Lakota update its instructional approaches to keep pace with the way the current generation learns best. Lecturing can no longer be relied upon, according to the district.
“Students need to be actively engaged,” Davis said. “They need to be encouraged to be critical thinkers.”
She described herself as a “data-driven decision maker.” For instance, she relies on student-performance data to make decisions about how to improve academic programs.
She also called herself a student-focused leader. “When I go home every night, I have to know what I did was in the best interests of the kids.”
Davis played a central role in merging Lakota’s ninth grade into the high schools. Each high school now has a freshman building. Previously, the ninth grades operated independently.
Davis served as a district representative for the construction of the Lakota East freshman building and, in 2008, became the building’s first administrator.
Her leadership style relies heavily on collaboration with staff. “I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and working side by side with you,” she told teachers Monday in a meeting announcing her appointment.
Davis started her career at Lakota East, teaching health and human sexuality for five years.
Then, she moved to Deer Park Jr.-Sr. High School in Hamilton County as an assistant principal before returning to Lakota East in 2006 as an assistant principal and later associate principal.
In addition to overseeing the Freshman Campus, she has worked closely with Principal Kline to set the vision and mission for the entire Lakota East High School. Lakota East, in Liberty Township, has 2,700 students and about 140 teachers.
She also has been an instructor in education at Xavier and Miami universities.
She earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor degree in education from Miami University.
The board approved a two-year contract for Davis, whose salary will be $100,000 annually.
Davis lives with her husband, Joe, in Mason.