Our "Employee Spotlight" series aims to showcase the unique personalities, talents, and stories that contribute to the success of our district. This section celebrates the incredible individuals who make our Lansing USD469 community thrive.
Mechelle Settles, Lansing Intermediate School Assistant Principal
Question: How long have you worked in Lansing USD469?
Answer: This is my 5th year in the Lansing school district
Question: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the role you have within the school district?
Answer: My husband, Kevin, and I have been married for 35 years. Our son, Ryan, works as an attorney in Overland Park. Aside from that, we have a very spoiled 11-year-old Yorkie at home named Titan. My tenure in the district has been spent in the Intermediate School, where I served the first two years as the building interventionist and assistant to the principal on an as needed basis. In my third year I became full-time Assistant Principal and Title IX Coordinator for the district. I worked for many years in the corporate world in various leadership positions but always had a strong desire to be in education. In my 40s, starting from scratch, I went back to school and obtained my teaching license, followed by a master's degree in educational leadership, all while teaching second and fourth grade students in Missouri over a period of 5 years. I feel I am a true testimony to others that it's never too late to make your dreams comes true and to never ever stop learning!
Question: What do you enjoy most about your role and the work you do in the school district?
Answer: I absolutely love being an assistant principal and working in the Lansing school district, the home of many incredible educators that I continue to learn from on a daily basis. While the job comes with a diverse number of responsibilities; the most important aspect is that it allows me to support both teachers and students on a daily basis. I am able to interact directly with students to provide guidance and support where needed, collaborate closely with teachers to provide and receive feedback and celebrate successes, and be involved in the classroom and in the day-to-day operations of the school. Besides the visible impact to student learning and achievement, the most amazing part of my job is the strong connections made with students, staff, and families
Question: When you're not working, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
Answer: I love spending time with family and friends and making happy memories. I also enjoy traveling and seeing new things, relaxing on a beach anywhere, reading a good book, and watching a really good movie.
Question: What is something unusual about you that most people don't know?
Answer: I love riding Harley Davidson motorcycles. Also, I joined the military right out of high school but received a medical discharge. On the upside, I probably wouldn't have met and married my husband if it weren't for being discharged.
Question: Could you share a particularly heartwarming or memorable experience you've had while working with students or colleagues?
Answer:I have had the privilege of seeing a number of teachers going above and beyond, taking personal time to personally mentor struggling students, consistently providing extra support and encouragement, which ultimately led to those students overcoming challenges both academically and in their overall confidence and belief in themselves all because a teacher believed in them.
Question: What piece of advice would you like to offer to students to help them succeed and make the most of their educational journey?
Answer: There are many key items that go into becoming a good student and having a successful educational career, such as learning how to manage your time, setting goals, and developing good study habits. There are also other important things, perhaps more important, that help make us good citizens as well, such as being kind, being respectful, always trying your best, embracing challenges, asking for help when needed, believing in yourself, cherishing the unique qualities that make you who you are, and always remembering it's okay to make mistakes because that's often when we learn life's best lessons.