Administrative Changes for the New School Year

We're excited to share a series of administrative changes that reflect our continued commitment to placing strong, experienced leaders in the right roles to best support our students, staff, and community. These transitions are the result of a retirement and a resignation within our administrative team, and they offer a unique opportunity to realign our leadership strengths across the district for long-term success:

Robert Reynolds, Principal of Lebanon High School, announced his retirement at the end of July. Bob served as Principal of LHS for the past three years, following a long and impactful career in public education. We are grateful for his service to our students and community, and we wish him all the best as he enters this exciting new chapter full of grandchildren and travel.

Maggie Holtkamp, Assistant Principal at Lebanon High School, resigned to accept a position at Little Miami High School—her alma mater and the district where her children attend. Maggie served LHS with passion and commitment for three and a half years as an Assistant Principal and previously as an Intervention Specialist. We thank her for her dedication to Lebanon and wish her continued success.

We are thrilled to announce the following new assignments:

Lebanon High School

Alex Brunk is the new Principal of Lebanon High School. Mr. Brunk brings a strong vision and deep understanding of our secondary schools. Since joining Lebanon in 2006 as a history teacher at Lebanon Junior High School, he has held multiple leadership roles including Assistant Principal at Donovan and LJHS, and most recently as Principal of LJHS since 2021. As a thoughtful listener and effective problem solver, Mr. Brunk is committed to working collaboratively with students, staff, and families to build on the great work already happening at LHS and to keep the school moving forward. 

"I am excited to join the High School, working alongside older secondary students in preparing them for what lies ahead once they graduate High School," Mr. Brunk said. "I want to bring a strong focus on connection, consistency, and high expectations to this role. I believe students and staff thrive when they feel seen, supported, and challenged which starts with building relationships.  I'm looking forward to serving students, staff, and families to make our school a place where every student is engaged and grows in their own unique way."

Mr. Brunk holds degrees in education from the University of Cincinnati: a Bachelors of Science in Education in Secondary Education: Integrated Social Studies, and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership. He lives in Liberty Township and his children attend Lakota Schools: Micah and Evie are sophomores at Lakota East High School, Julian and Luca are fourth graders and Max is a third grader. His wife, Alison, teaches first grade in Lakota at Wyandot. They have a pug named Remy and a Chihuahua mix named Clarabelle.  Their family loves Disney World and traveling there is their biggest hobby as a family.  They also love to watch Xavier Basketball and Tottenham soccer along with watching the kids perform in the Lakota East Marching Band and playing soccer for a local club team.  

Tiffany Martin will join the Lebanon High School administrative team as Assistant Principal. Tiffany previously taught at LHS for four years before moving to Assistant Principal at Berry Intermediate for the past seven years. She brings her secondary-level teaching experience, a background as an Intervention Specialist, and strong expertise in MTSS and Behavioral Leadership to the high school. Her strengths in student support and instructional leadership will be a tremendous asset at the high school. 

"I’m thrilled to return to Lebanon High School in a new role," Mrs. Martin said. "I look forward to reconnecting with former Berry students, becoming more involved with extracurriculars, and helping students achieve their goals for the future!"

Mrs. Martin earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Education from Ohio Dominican and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University. When she was hired by LCS, her family moved to Lebanon, and they have loved being a part of the community. You can usually find her and her husband, Jordan, at a sporting event for one of their teenage sons - Jackson, who is a senior, and Mason, who is a freshman. 

Lebanon Junior High School

Clifton Franz is now Principal of Lebanon Junior High School. Clifton led Donovan Elementary Schools for the last 17 years. He brings several key strengths to LJHS, including his ability to foster a positive school culture for students and staff, implement effective MTSS practices, make data-informed decisions, and build strong relationships with students.  

"After 17 years at Donovan, I was ready for a new challenge that would allow me to grow both professionally and personally. I’ve always believed that stepping outside your comfort zone helps you develop new perspectives, and this felt like the right opportunity to do that," Mr. Franz said. "I’ve always had a deep interest in supporting students during the critical transition from childhood to adolescence. Junior high is such a formative time, and I wanted to be part of shaping that experience in a positive way. I look forward to bringing a strong sense of community, a collaborative spirit, positive energy, and a commitment to building relationships, supporting student growth, celebrating staff, and continuously improving together.”

Mr. Franz holds a Bachelors of Science in Education from Miami University and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Xavier University. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Andrea, for 26 years, and they have two children. Both Logan and Cameryn graduated from Lebanon High School.  Cameryn also graduated from the Warren County Career Center, where she focused on pre-nursing. They have two dogs, Donut and King Julien. Hobbies include putting together jigsaw puzzles, Legos, and the never-ending 'honey-do list.'

Donovan Elementary School

Carissa Womack has ascended into the role of Principal at Donovan Elementary. Carissa has served as an Assistant Principal at Donovan and Bowman Primary for the past 10 years. Prior to coming to Lebanon, Carissa served as an Elementary Principal in Princeton City Schools. Her dedication to the Donovan community and deep understanding of the school’s needs will ensure a seamless transition and continued focus on student success. 

"Over the past several years, I’ve grown alongside the staff, students, and families at Donovan, and stepping into the principalship feels like a natural next step in that journey," Mrs. Womack said. "I’m excited to lead a building I care deeply about and to continue building a positive culture rooted in strong relationships, high expectations, and student growth. I’m looking forward to supporting our team as we work together to meet the needs of every child."

Mrs. Womack earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood from Marietta College and completed her Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Tarleton State University in Texas. She lives in the district with her family. She and her husband, Wes, have two children, Layne in 8th grade and Emberly in 5th grade, who keep them busy and bring them so much joy. As a family, they enjoy boating and vacationing at the beach. 

Cassidy Wodke has been named Assistant Principal at Donovan Elementary School. For the last three years, Ms. Wodke served as an assistant principal at the elementary level, most recently with Middletown City Schools for one year and previously in Mt. Healthy for two years. Her teaching career began in 2007 in Michigan, where she served as an elementary intervention specialist. In 2014, she returned to the Cincinnati area to be closer to family and joined the Warren County Educational Service Center, working in a social communication classroom located at Bowman. Following that, she joined Kings Local Schools at South Lebanon Elementary to help launch a specialized classroom designed to support students with complex needs. 

"I have always cherished my time working in Lebanon and I am thrilled for the opportunity to return in an administrative role. My work with Lebanon and WCESC was instrumental in solidifying my passion for serving students with disabilities, particularly through the inclusive practices and welcoming atmosphere at Bowman," Ms. Wodke said. "Through all of my experiences as an assistant principal, I am a firm believer in leading with kindness and inclusivity, modeling these values to inspire staff, students, and families. My goal is to continue building a community of learners who grow academically, socially, and emotionally."

Ms. Wodke holds a Bachelor's degree in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University, a Masters of Education from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and an Educational Administration Principal Licensure from Xavier University. 

Berry Intermediate School

Kelli Shumaker has been named Assistant Principal at Berry Intermediate School. This is Mrs. Shumaker’s18th year with Lebanon City Schools. She taught 5th grade English language arts and social studies for 16 years. She served as the Dean of Students at Berry Intermediate last school year. 

"Becoming an Assistant Principal at Berry is a dream come true! Having worked in the building for 17 years, Berry has become like home to me. I have a genuine love and respect for the staff, the families, and, most importantly, the students who make this community so special. I’ve seen firsthand the heart, dedication, and talent within these walls, and I knew I wanted to be in a position where I could support and elevate that work every single day," Mrs. Shumaker said. "In this role, I’m most looking forward to being a consistent source of support—for our students as they grow and navigate challenges, for our staff as they continue to inspire learning, and for our families as valued partners in the educational journey. My goal is to help create a culture where everyone feels seen, valued, and encouraged to thrive!"

Mrs. Shumaker received her Bachelor's and Master's degree from Miami University. She lives in Franklin with her husband, two children and their two crazy-but-cute dogs. She says it's a full house and a fun adventure every day.

These administrators have started in their new roles this summer to ensure a smooth transition when staff return to our buildings soon. These changes highlight the depth of talent within our district and reflect our shared commitment to strong leadership, smooth transitions, and continuous growth. I’m excited for the possibilities these moves create and confident that each of these leaders will continue to have a profound and positive impact in their new roles.