TAVARES – Diane Kornegay, the award-winning superintendent of Lake County Schools (LCS), has announced that she will retire at the end of the 2026-27 school year.
“After more than 35 years of serving students, educators, and families, I have decided to retire at the end of this upcoming school year,” Kornegay wrote in an email to staff. “Deciding to retire has been one of the most difficult decisions of my career. While I know this is the right time for me personally, it is bittersweet to step away from a profession and a community that mean so much to me.
“Serving as Superintendent of Lake County Schools has been the honor of a lifetime,” she continued. “I have been blessed to work alongside exceptional teachers, dedicated staff, outstanding school leaders, supportive families, and committed community partners who have always put students first. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to serve with an extraordinary School Board that, through even the most challenging of times, has remained united by a shared vision, mutual respect, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is best for every student in Lake County.”
Kornegay was appointed Superintendent of Lake County Schools in 2017 after serving in several leadership roles in Clay County Schools, including Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Director of School Improvement and Teaching Training, as well as school principal.
Under Kornegay’s leadership, the district has made significant strides in academic performance and program offerings. It achieved an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education in 2025 and again in 2026, the first consecutive A grades in the district’s history. LCS implemented several alternative education programs to meet the varied needs and interests of students, including a high school technical education program offering workforce dual enrollment onsite in partnership with Lake Technical College.
Also, LCS has expanded access to high-demand Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs across all middle and high schools, and all high schools now provide accelerated diploma tracks, including AICE, Advanced Placement, and IB programs.
Additionally, when Kornegay stepped into the chief leadership role at the district, the graduation rate was 77.8 percent. She set a goal to get the district to at least 90 percent. Since then, the graduation rate has soared to 96 percent for district-operated schools – the highest in the district’s recorded history.
In recognition of her transformational leadership, Kornegay was selected as Florida’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year by the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) in December 2025.
“Effective May 28, 2027, I will retire with immense pride in all we have accomplished together and complete confidence in the bright future ahead for Lake County Schools,” Kornegay wrote. “With another school year still ahead, I remain fully committed to serving the students, employees, and community throughout the 2026-27 school year while ensuring a smooth leadership transition. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving this incredible community. I will always cherish the relationships, the memories, and the remarkable work we have and will continue to accomplish together.”