Jennifer Lepard, a 14-year special education teacher in Mansfield City Schools, is the new athletic director at Mansfield Senior High School.
Lepard’s appointment was confirmed by the board of education Tuesday night on a 3-1 vote that encompassed a wide range of Superintendent Brian Garverick’s personnel recommendations. Renda Cline, Sheryl Weber and Judy Forney voted for the personnel actions. Chris Elswick voted no. Gary Feagin was absent.
Lepard succeeds Skip Fulton who will teach social studies at Mansfield Middle School.
“When the AD job opened up I thought this would be another opportunity for me to help students – not just students with special needs – but all students,” Lepard said. “This is an opportunity for me to help our athletic department grow, support student academics in the classroom and support them on the field while showing and promoting good sportsmanship.”
Lepard received her teaching degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix.
She played softball through high school and at Cuyahoga Community College. She coached high school softball at Black River and Buckeye Center and volleyball at the middle school level.
Lepard was student council advisor at Senior High and Mansfield Middle School for eight years. She played a key role in Mansfield successfully hosting the annual state conference of the Ohio Association of Student Councils in 2013 and 2016.
A class adviser for the last four years, she has worked with students on planning homecoming, the Mehock assembly, prom and graduation. She served as chair of the Mansfield School Employees Association’s annual Celebration of Education and as an officer of the Tyger Booster Club.
“I enjoy working with children and watching them become successful in the classroom and on the field,” Lepard said.