photo by: USD 497

Phil Mitchell

The Lawrence school district has announced that Lawrence Free State High School social studies teacher Phil Mitchell will serve as the assistant principal and athletic director of Liberty Memorial Central Middle School.

Mitchell will begin his new position July 1, pending school board approval. Mitchell will replace Brandy Taylor, who is completing her first year in the position and has resigned to accept a position in another school district at the end of the school year.

Jenny Schmitt, who will become Liberty Memorial Central Middle School’s interim principal in July, said in a news release that Mitchell has a wide range of experience as a teacher-leader, having served on multiple district committees and as department chair, and a wide range of athletic leadership, having more than 15 years of coaching experience.

“The committee was impressed with his commitment to Lawrence Public Schools and his ability to serve our students with positivity and compassion,” said Schmitt, who worked with a committee of LMCMS teachers and staff to make the selection.

Mitchell has taught at Free State High for 15 years, and has taught social studies, advanced placement European history and psychology courses. He has also served as an assistant coach for cross country, girls basketball and track & field. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Kansas.

“Free State High School has been a source of great happiness in my life,” Mitchell said in the release. “From my friendships with my colleagues to the relationships with students and athletes, the Firebird community has given me and my family incredible support. I am very honored to be selected for this new role and excited by the opportunity to join and support the LMCMS community.”

Built in 1923 as Liberty Memorial High School and a monument to the Lawrence High School students and graduates whose lives were cut short by World War I, LMCMS will celebrate its centennial next year. The middle school currently serves 430 students in grades 6-8. The Lawrence school board approved using the 2023-2024 school year to engage the community in a redesign of the educational program at LMCMS and to launch innovative curricular themes for the 2024-2025 school year. A Middle School Redesign Committee continues to meet and lead this planning process.