Lakewood Middle School Principal Mike Lowers is the Area III Middle School Principal of the Year. Area III includes 19 counties in North Central Kansas.

According to USD 305, Lowers received the award earlier this month during the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals annual conference in Wichita. The award recognizes outstanding middle level administrators who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession.

Lowers, who is in his third year as principal of Lakewood Middle school, credits the staff at Lakewood Middle School for recent improvements in student achievement.

Lowers began his career in education as a seventh through twelfth grade social studies and English teacher. He spent five years as a high school counselor, and was also a principal at in Wilson, Kansas before coming to Salina. Lower was principal of South Middle School, Salina, for six years prior to moving to Lakewood Middle School.