Lakeland Union High School District principal Justin Szews has accepted the principal job at Three Lakes Junior/Senior High School. He will leave Lakeland at the end of this school year.
The school board accepted his resignation Monday, giving the veteran administrator two rounds of applause, as board members and others praised his service and dedication.
“He’s an excellent principal and an excellent, outstanding person,” said Administrator Rob Way.
“We truly are going to miss you,” said newly elected board president Gary Smith. “Know that you’re going to be successful no matter where you go. We really, really appreciate what you’ve done.”
Afterwards, Szews said the Three Lakes opportunity was “exciting.” When asked what he will miss the most, he replied: “A lot of good people that I am working with here.” Among the plusses of being at Lakeland is it’s “wide variety of programs,” as well as “the diverse student body,” he added.
What he perhaps won’t miss is the time spent commuting to work. “My commute will be cut in half,” he said of going to Three Lakes.
Szews leaves the Lakeland district after 14 years, including as full-time principal beginning with the 2018-19 school year, succeeding Jim Bouché in that role.
Szews came to LUHS in 2008 as its dean of students and activities director. He acquired the assistant principal duties the second year. The Association of Wisconsin School Administrators named Szews Assistant Principal of the Year in 2018. He was also one of three finalists for the 2018 National Assistant Principal of the Year.
Among his accomplishments at Lakeland was heading a local effort to reduce the student absenteeism rate, which stood at just over 23 percent in 2012. By 2018, the rate had dropped to just under seven percent.
Lakeland has an enrollment of about 700 students in grades 9-12. At Three Lakes, he will oversee about 230 students in grades 7-12.
