photo by: Lawrence Public Schools

Jake Potter and Summer Workman

Jake Potter, the Lawrence school district’s executive director of communications, is leaving the district after less than a year, and another communications staff member will assume his responsibilities, the Journal-World has independently learned.

On May 25, at a Lawrence school board meeting, Superintendent Jeanice Swift announced that Summer Workman would be the district’s new director of communications effective July 1. But she did not say that Workman would succeed Potter, nor that Potter was leaving the district. However, the Journal-World since learned independently that Potter was leaving. The Journal-World reached out to the district repeatedly via phone and email on Monday asking to confirm the staffing change, but received no response.

“Summer Workman, an USD 497 alum, is a talented, experienced school communications professional who is also deeply connected to our Lawrence schools and community,” Swift said in a news release on May 25. “She will lead communications with a unique voice and perspective to ensure meaningful connections, to celebrate the story of Lawrence Public Schools and keep the school community engaged and informed.”

Potter had more than 15 years of communications, public relations and community engagement experience in K-12 education. Before his job in Lawrence, he served as chief communications officer for the Leavenworth school district.

Workman has more than a decade of experience in education communications and community engagement. She 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. She has also served as executive communications project and program manager at Micron Technology Inc.

Potter and Workman both started working for the Lawrence school district in August 2025, as the Journal-World reported. The combined salaries for the two roles started at $213,000 annually, with Potter earning $137,780 and Workman receiving $75,281.