photo by: Lawrence Public Schools

Jennifer Georgie

The Lawrence school district announced the selection of Jennifer Georgie as interim principal of Sunset Hill Elementary School.

Georgie, who currently serves as the district’s lead student and family support facilitator, will take over as principal of Sunset Hill Elementary School on July 1, according to a press release from the Lawrence school district. She will succeed Jeremy Philipp, who has led Sunset Hill for the past eight years and is set to become assistant principal and athletic director at Southwest Middle School next month.

“Jennifer Georgie brings passion and skills, an abiding commitment to the success of ALL students, and breadth of experience to lead well this year as the interim principal at Sunset Hill,” Superintendent Jeanice Swift said in the press release. “We are truly grateful for her willingness to serve alongside the strong Sunset Hill staff and community, as we look forward to a successful 2025-26 school year.”

Georgie is finishing her second year leading the district’s efforts to eliminate barriers to student success in areas such as attendance, behavior, and family engagement. She worked with the District Equity Team to develop the District Restorative Framework, which takes an alternative approach to more traditional discipline. In addition, she has led the districtwide implementation of the social-emotional learning curriculum.

Georgie has been with the district for more than 20 years. She previously served as lead assistance administrator and student support facilitator, and spent a decade teaching science and English Language Arts at West Middle School. Her teaching career also includes one year at South Middle School — now known as Billy Mills Middle School — and seven years at Deerfield Elementary.

Georgie began her career with the district in 2003 as a prevention specialist, focusing on reducing truancy and suspensions while supporting academic improvement. For two years, she worked with students at South Middle and Central Junior High — now Liberty Memorial Central Middle School.

Her prior experience includes serving as a northeast educational instructor for five years for the Greenbush Education Service Center in Girard, Kansas. Georgie earned a bachelor’s degree at Pittsburg State University and her master’s at the University of Kansas.

“I am excited to step into the role of interim principal of Sunset Hill Elementary,” Georgie said in the release. “Sunset has a longstanding reputation for excellence, built by a dedicated staff committed to student success. I look forward to building relationships with students, staff, and families as we work together to support student growth and continue the valued traditions of Sunset Hill.”

In the meantime, the district will be conducting a comprehensive principal search.

“We look forward to working together and engaging with Sunset Hill staff, parents, and community through a robust principal search, beginning next fall, to select a long-term leader for Sunset Hill school,” Swift said in the release.