photo by: Lawrence Public Schools

Jake Potter and Summer Workman

The Lawrence school district has hired a new spokesperson and added a new communications position following the departure of the district’s longtime spokeswoman. The combined salaries for the two roles will start at $213,000 annually.

Jake Potter will take the place of Julie Boyle as executive director of communications beginning Aug. 21. He will earn an annual salary of $137,780, which is $670 less than Boyle earned before retiring earlier this summer after nearly 28 years with the district.

The new position — coordinator of communications — has been filled by Summer Workman, who will begin Aug. 11 at an annual salary of $75,281.

Lawrence Superintendent Jeanice Swift told the Journal-World via email that the district’s goal has been to make school communications more efficient for staff and families. On top of hiring the additional position, this work has included reducing the number of apps parents need and consolidating information in one place by implementing ParentSquare, a school-to-home communication platform for the 2025-2026 school year.

Swift said these decisions address key feedback from the community shared during last year’s Community Conversation, where communication was a top concern in the January 2025 report.

“Our Lawrence Public Schools community has clearly articulated a need for more tightly aligned, streamlined and expanded communications efforts across the school and district levels,” Swift said. “This emerging team configuration is designed in response to the clear direction articulated in feedback our community has shared.”

Potter, according to a news release from the district, has more than 15 years of communications, public relations and community engagement experience in K-12 education. Previously, he served as chief communications officer for the Leavenworth school district, where he led the school district podcast development and multiple website designs.

“I feel honored and energized to step into the role of Executive Director of Communications for Lawrence Public Schools,” Potter said in the release. “My goals are to keep our audiences informed and engaged on a timely and consistent basis, earn trust through authentic and inclusive two-way communications, and help strengthen partnerships in support of student achievement. I am also deeply committed to sharing and amplifying stories from our classrooms, students, families, teachers, and staff.”

Prior to working in public schools, Potter spent almost a decade as a senior associate with Jane Mobley Associates in Kansas City, supporting major public sector projects through strategic planning, media relations and community outreach.

Workman has more than a decade of experience in education communications and community engagement, according to the release.

The aim of the new coordinator of communications position is to expand the district’s communication efforts beyond traditional roles, Swift said. Workman will focus on schools, community and stakeholder outreach. She will also collaborate with enrollment and district teams to ensure families have a positive experience.

“I am thrilled to return and serve in the district that helped shape who I am,” Workman said in the release. “I believe deeply in the power of clear, compassionate communication, and I’m excited to collaborate with students, staff, families, and the broader Lawrence community to build strong connections, share our stories, and support the important work happening across Lawrence Public Schools.”

Workman started her career in public education communications with the Aurora school district in Colorado, where she was in charge of district communications, media relations and strategic storytelling. Most recently, she served as executive communications project and program manager at Micron Technology Inc.