The clock is now officially ticking on a major leadership change in Lake County Schools, as the school board opens a search for a new superintendent following Diane Kornegay’s decision to retire at the end of the 2026–27 school year.
Kornegay has set her retirement date for May 28, 2027, and plans to stay on through the upcoming school year to help guide the handoff to whoever takes her place.
The district first outlined the transition in a July 6 press release. Kornegay, who has led Lake County Schools since 2017, called it one of the most difficult decisions of her career and pledged to ensure a smooth leadership transition, according to Lake County Schools. The release also credits her tenure with expanding career and technical programs and driving academic gains across the district.
Board launches search
School board members signaled at a recent meeting that they were kicking off the recruitment process, and local TV coverage reports that the board has now formally opened the search, as reported by WKMG / ClickOrlando. So far, the board has not hired a search firm or released a public timeline for when applications will be accepted or when interviews will begin.
Kornegay's record and local stakes
Under Kornegay’s leadership, Lake County Schools earned back-to-back “A” grades from the Florida Department of Education in 2025 and 2026 and raised the graduation rate for district-operated schools to about 96 percent. Those milestones have been highlighted by the district and cited in local coverage. WFTV noted that district officials have not yet identified a successor.
What to watch next
Parents, teachers and community groups will be watching upcoming board agendas and district notices for clues about what comes next, including the qualifications the board wants in a new superintendent, how long the application window will stay open and whether there will be public forums with finalists.
For now, Kornegay says she plans to keep her focus on students and staff while Lake County Schools works through what could be one of its most closely watched leadership transitions in years.
