Lakeview has hired a new superintendent, Ashley Handrych, beginning the 2024-2025 school year. At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, the current superintendent, Velina Jo Taylor, will be retiring. Taylor began her journey in teaching at YSU where she obtained her teaching degree. Then she moved on to Nova Southeastern University where got her master’s degree in curriculum. Taylor then went back to her original school, YSU, where she went on to earn her principal’s license. Finally, Taylor went to the University of Cincinnati where she received her license to become superintendent.

Taylor’s journey began long before she started at Lakeview. Before becoming the superintendent we know her as Taylor first began teaching in a classroom. She first began as a teacher at Brookfield High School where she remained for sixteen years. After spending some of her time at Brookfield, Taylor moved to Canfield where she started as the Middle School Principal and later became a High School Principal. Taylor remainder in a Principal position at Brookfield for eight years. After her time as principal, Brookfield then hired Taylor as their superintendent. In 2019 Taylor left Brookfield and came to Lakeview. Since then, she has remained our superintendent. 

Taylor is an extremely determined and hard-working woman who states, “I loved working with kids and staff as well as working with the community has been incredibly rewarding. It’s been amazing to work with such a fabulous administration and work together dreaming of what to do for kids. As for my position, they could not have picked a better person. Ashley Handrych loves the district as well as the community and she is the best hands to put the school into. She has tremendous spirit, she bleeds blue and white, you can tell by her constantly stating ‘It’s a great day to be a bulldog!’”.

The district’s appreciation goes without saying. Many students and faculty members look up to Velina Taylor. She encourages students every day through her determination. She does more than necessary to benefit the lives of the students, faculty, and even the community. On top of that, she has put a tremendous amount of work into the district and should continue to be appreciated for all of her hard work.

Lakeview High School’s Vice Principal, Michael Detoro, had a statement about the retirement of Velina Taylor, “Mrs. Taylor has been awesome at leading our district, especially during the tough Covid pandemic. I have learned much from her due to her careful attention to detail and incredible work ethic. Her retirement is the end of a great chapter for Lakeview and she leaves behind a legacy of continued excellence and mentorship”.

Taylor is taking one last journey with the students at Lakeview High School post-retirement. She will be going with the Travel Club to Costa Rica during the summer of 2024 where she will continue to encourage students. While on this trip, she will be able to learn with the students as well as help them to focus on the amazing opportunity. Once she returns, Taylor will begin to enjoy her retirement.

Finally, Taylor states, “The thought of retirement has yet to get to me. I just keep telling myself I don’t have to get up early on March 26th. I am excited about the possibility more than anything. Being able to have control over what I do day to day. Finally, I hope people realize it was an honor to be associated with the district, the caliber of students, and the administration. The entire group was the best group of people I’ve worked with. Lakeview truly is a special place and I am an incredibly lucky person to have been included.”