Quentin Rials and Zach Harwood are being promoted from interim principals to the permanent positions at Lawrence High School and Lawrence Virtual School, respectively.
Rials graduated from LHS himself in 1995. He was named interim principal in June.
Rials earned a bachelor’s degree at Baker University, his juris doctorate at Washburn University, and a master’s degree at the University of Kansas, where he is a doctoral candidate, according to a Monday news release from the district. He also worked as an attorney for six years in private practice, both on behalf of a multinational corporation and for the state of Kansas, before he joined Lawrence Public Schools, according to a previous announcement from the district.
“Our goals at LHS center around making sure each student is prepared to be successful in college or their career when they graduate,” Rials said in the release. “I look forward to continuing to work with the excellent staff at LHS to put processes and procedures in place to ensure all students are future-ready and aware of their options before they graduate so they can make choices that best suit their needs.”
Harwood taught science at Billy Mills Middle School from 2013 through 2019, then served as an assistant principal and athletic director for three years for schools in Carbondale and Olathe. He also served as the organizational excellence coordinator for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center in 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas and his master’s at Baker University, according to the release.
Harwood said in the release that he’s thrilled to “continue the work we have started at LVS.”
“The students, staff, and families have been incredibly welcoming, and I am excited about the great things happening here,” he said in the release. “I look forward to us continuing to build systems of support for our students and families and a connected, cohesive, and supportive community that ensures that every student has what they need to reach their full potential academically, as well as socially and emotionally.”
The positions are effective immediately, pending school board approval.
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