Dr. Lauren Gechter will be the new principal at Timber Creek Elementary School, effective in July. The Ray-Pec School Board approved the hiring at its Jan. 23 meeting.
Gechter has been the assistant principal at Westridge Elementary and Little Blue Elementary in the Raytown School District since 2014.
She said the “family feel” of our community attracted her to the Raymore-Peculiar School District.
“I was also very attracted to the focus the District puts on the whole child,” she said. “The focus on the social-emotional growth of a child, in addition to the academics, shows me how much the District cares about the true wellbeing of all students. I’m also excited to be part of a growing District.”
Before becoming a school principal, Gechter taught 6th grade reading and English and 8th grade advisory, Class Within a Class, from 2012 to 2014 to Raytown Middle School. Earlier, she taught 1st grade from 2010 to 2012 at Frontier School of Innovation and taught 7th grade science, 3d grade, and 5th grade in the Kansas City, Mo., School District from 2008 to 2010.
Gechter earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, with a minor in leadership studies, from the University of Kansas. She received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She received her education specialist and doctorate degrees in educational administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Gechter grew up in Kansas City. She is married and has one son and one dog. She enjoys spending time with her family and trying new things.
She will replace Principal Dr. Lovie Driskill, who is retiring at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.