LAGRANGE – The Lakeland Board of Education has approved the hiring of their new Superintendent.

During Monday's meeting the Board unanimously approved the hiring of Dr. Gregory Baker to be their next Superintendent. He will take over for Dr. Eva Merkel, who will be retiring at the end of the current school year.

Baker was selected after an extensive interview process from a pool of very talented educators. Baker is a life long resident of Northeast Indiana, and served in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years. He has been in the education field for 21 years where he was a teacher for 5 years, an assistant principal for 6 years and the last 10 as a high school principal.

Baker will begin his new duties with Lakeland Schools on July 1.