Merrillville Community Schools will see some familiar faces in new roles next year after its School Board of Trustees approved three new administrative positions for the 2022-23 school year.

Merrillville High School Assistant Principal Candace Lillie is now Merrillville’s director of student services, diversity, equity and inclusion.

She will be responsible for coordinating, supporting and growing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout the district as well as represent the school corporation by serving on various district and community committees and organizations, such as the Urban League, NWI Civil Rights Organization and university diversity programs, the corporation announced in a release Wednesday.

Lillie, a Ball State graduate who started with Merrillville 18 years ago and has served as assistant principal for six years, “is experienced with restorative practices to help foster and maintain effective and inclusive learning environments,” according to the release.

Pierce Middle School Assistant Principal Sharon Igras is now Wood Elementary’s principal, according to the release. Igras, a Ball State Master’s graduate, started with Merrillville in 2002 as a math teacher and has been an assistant principal since 2013.

Dean of Students Kasey Rogers will move to Merrillville Intermediate School as its assistant principal. Rogers holds a master’s degree from Purdue University and has been with Merrillville since 2019, according to the release.

Other administrative changes at Merrillville include moving Iddings Elementary Assistant Principal Christine Waugh into the new director of early childhood and student support programs position; and switching Fieler Elementary Principal Michael Megyesi to Pierce Elementary as its principal and Pierce Principal LaFonda Morris to Fieler Elementary, the release said.

Waugh, a Merrillville graduate and administrator with the corporation since 2013, will oversee the preschool, high ability, Title 1 and English Language Learner programs.

Megyesi, who served as a middle school principal with Duneland Schools, also is a Merrillville and Ball State graduate, according to the release. Morris, who has an education specialist degree from Wesleyan University, has been with Merrillville for 23 years, 17 of those served in school leadership roles.

“We are excited about these new appointments for the 2022-23 school year,” said Superintendent Nick Brown in the release. “We hope our new administrators enjoy their new roles in the school corporation.”

Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.