Lakota School Board appoints new member Christina French, former district principal
Lakota Local Schools Board of Education voted to appoint Christina French, a former district employee, to fill a vacant seat Monday evening. French will replace Darbi Boddy, who was voted off the board by her colleagues in late March.
Boddy got into frequent spats with her fellow board members during her tenure. But one of her colleagues, board member Isaac Adi, said their arguments rose to harassment and he was granted a two-year civil stalking protection order in September. That order prevented Boddy from attending school board meetings − and, according to state law, members who are absent for more than 90 days are subject to removal from a school board.
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When enough time had passed, the rest of Lakota's board members met for a special meeting to oust Boddy from the board.
The school board met at 9 a.m. Monday for a special meeting and went into executive session to interview school board member candidates. They voted to appoint French at 7:30 p.m., after a long day of interviews.
It was a difficult process, the four board members agreed, but French came in on top.
"We have a lot to accomplish this year," Board President Julie Shaffer said Monday. The district is developing a master facilities plan, has union negotiations coming up and is in the midst of a superintendent search.
"We can't wait to get the work of Lakota done for our students, our staff and our community," Shaffer said.
Who is Christina French?
French was Lakota's director of K-6 curriculum and instruction from 2018 until 2023, according to her resume. She's also a former principal, having led Hopewell Elementary School for six years starting in 2012.
Prior to her time at Hopewell, French worked as an assistant principal at Shawnee Early Childhood School, assistant principal at East Elementary School in Fairfield and was a first grade teacher at Fairfield.
In her application, French wrote she was interested in being a board member because of her "passion for leading, engaging the community, building relationships and creating sustainable systems to produce student academic growth, keeping in mind the individual needs of all learners."
French has four daughters, two of which are currently Lakota students. The older two graduated from Lakota. She's lived in the district since 2008.
"I am very excited about this opportunity," French told The Enquirer after she was appointed. "I'm honored that they chose me among such a diverse candidate pool. And I'm looking forward to getting back to the good work at this district and putting our students first and focusing on moving the district forward."
French has never before run for school board.
French will be sworn in at a regular board meeting Tuesday evening.
Who else applied to fill Darbi Boddy's school board seat?
More than 20 people applied for the position. The Enquirer obtained their applications through an Ohio Public Records Act request.
Here's the list, including French:
J. Marc Hopkins, senior technical lead and principal consultant for the Southwest Ohio Computer Association.
Troy Miller, government relations liaison at Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, which operates Metro buses. Miller is also on the following boards: Hamilton County Human Services Chamber Board, Butler County Democratic Central Committee and vice chair to the Greater Cincinnati Occupational Health Center.
Mindy Reichelt, director of secondary teaching and learning at Mount Healthy City Schools.
Brad Almendinger, global director of procurement and strategic sourcing at Evenflo.
Tommy Montoya, senior director of global human resource strategy at Procter & Gamble.
Jerald M. Rosenston, director of national accounts for Empire Candle.
Justin W. Hall, veteran information security practitioner who currently works as a senior manager of research at Tenable.
Troy Kehr, sales territory manager at ClarkDietrich and founder and president of Tina's Angels. The foundation was started in memory of Kehr's sister, who died from breast cancer in 2010.
Lisa Phair, a realtor and community ambassador. Phair is chair of the Lakota District Parent Council and is part of the West Chester Boys & Girls Club and Neighborhood Bridges Lakota.
Timothy M. Easterling, Sr., a mental health therapist at Primary Health Care Solutions and Modern Psychiatry & Wellness. Easterling also served as president and CEO of Time II Advocate for Children and Families for 16 years.
Greg Power, former Little Miami Local Schools superintendent.
Tyler Swisshelm, pharmacy technician from West Chester.
Christina J. French, former director of K-6 curriculum and instruction at Lakota Local Schools.
Warren G. Curry, Jr., realtor and pastor at Life Changers Ministries in West Chester.
Timothy A. Burkett, science and engineering teacher at Cincinnati Christian Schools who is retiring in May.
Doug Zimmerman, former Anthony Wayne Local Schools board of education member.
Elyse Jenkins Prescott, Ohio deputy director of Red Wine & Blue, who recently completed a fellowship learning program with School Board School in Cincinnati.
Teri Shirk, president and CEO of Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Alex Argo, a software engineer and cofounder of A-Star Software. Argo also volunteers on parent teacher associations.
Alyssa Louagie, community development manager at Companions on a Journey in West Chester. Louagie was associate director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Butler County for a decade, and is current president of Lakota Lakota's Enrichment and Academic Development of Students Parent Group.
Eric Hopkins, a master engineer and Lakota parent and grandparent.
Tia Corris, a dental assistant from Monroe.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota School Board chooses former principal to replace Darbi Boddy
