Our Team

Kim Wade has been part of the Lakota community since 2003. She became the first assistant principal of Plains Junior when it opened its doors in August 2003. Her four sons attended Lakota schools from kindergarten until they graduated from Lakota East in 2017.

Kim served as assistant principal at Plains 2003-2007, moved to East High as assistant principal from 2007-2010 and opened Lakota's first ever centralized registration location in 2010. Kim accepted the principalship at Plains Junior in 2011 and has been there since. She truly enjoys the interaction with the students and staff at the junior high level and working alongside the Plains community to make Plains a premier school. 

Mrs. Wade is available to hear your concerns about all matters relating to Plains students, staff and the school community.
 

Brian Wallace returned to Lakota and rejoined the Plains staff in fall 2021 as an assistant principal. Brian previously spent 15 years at Sycamore Community Schools as an assistant principal, principal and HR director. Prior to that, he was a junior high health teacher and athletic director at Ridge and Plains Junior.

Mr. Wallace's primary roles at Plains include working with the special education department, overseeing discipline, attendance and athletic eligibility and serving as building test coordinator. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wright State University and his Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of Cincinnati.

Mr. Wallace has returned to his passion of working with junior high-age students and looks forward to helping them navigate their seventh and eighth-grade years. 
 

Brenda Paget has worked in public education since 1989. Her undergraduate degree is from Purdue University, and she has graduate degrees in mathematics, school counseling and school administration from Miami University and Xavier University respectively.  

In 1990, she began a seven-year stint at Liberty and Ridge junior schools as a mathematics teacher for seven years. She decided to pursue a degree that would allow me to help children become more successful students, work with them to help them effectively deal with a variety of problems, and inspire them to do their personal best in their lives.

Mrs. Paget completed her school counseling degree from Xavier University and then moved to the Lakota Freshman School, where she served as a school counselor for five years and assistant principal for three years. She then worked at Lakota's Central Office as an administrator for special education and student services before returning to school counseling at Plains in 2015. 

Parents should contact Mrs. Paget to discuss academic, social/emotional concerns and behavioral issues. She is available to offer family support, discuss individual student needs and make appropriate referrals to community resources.
 

Kimberly Doty has been a  Lakota School Counselor since the 2022-2023 school year. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 2020. She earned her master’s degree in School Counseling at the University of Cincinnati in 2022.

Ms. Doty is passionate about working with children who struggle with mental-health challenges. Her primary focus is to create a safe and supportive environment to encourage social and emotional growth. She can provide small group counseling or one on one counseling, surrounding various topics such as social skills, emotion regulation, self-control etc. Ms. Doty is the liaison for community agency partnerships that support our students and is also the case manager for 504 Plans.

Feel free to contact Ms. Doty with concerns related to social and emotional issues at kimberly.doty@lakotaonline.com.

As the Data Specialist at Plains Junior School, Jamese Montgomery plays a key role in managing the daily operations that keep our school running smoothly. Her responsibilities include tracking student attendance, managing class schedules, processing student withdrawals, handling academic record requests, and coordinating parent-teacher conferences.

She works closely with staff, students, and families to ensure that all data is accurate, timely, and handled with confidentiality. Whether it's updating schedules, preparing reports, or supporting communication between school and home, she strives to make every process efficient and student-centered.

With a strong attention to detail and a passion for organization, she helps create a structured and supportive environment where students and educators can thrive.

Since joining Plains in 2019, Jennifer Brown has been a dedicated and welcoming presence in the school office. As the School Office Manager, Jennifer Brown is the friendly face and reliable support system for students, staff, and families alike.

In addition to keeping the front office running smoothly, Jennifer Brown serves as the principal’s right-hand person—helping coordinate key tasks, support school-wide initiatives, and ensure everything behind the scenes flows seamlessly. Known for her approachable nature, strong organizational skills, and commitment to creating a positive school environment, Jennifer brings warmth, professionalism, and a deep sense of care to the school community.

I have proudly served as the Athletic Secretary at Plains Jr since 2023, supporting our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic programs with dedication and organization. With a passion for sports and a commitment to excellence, I manage scheduling, communication, and logistics to help ensure our teams run smoothly both on and off the field. Whether coordinating events, assisting with compliance, or cheering from the sidelines, I’m here to help our athletic community thrive.

In addition to my role in athletics, I also work in the main office where I assist with checking students in and out and scheduling IEP meetings. I enjoy being a part of the daily rhythm of the school and helping things run efficiently for students, staff, and families. Go Plains Firebirds! 

Deputy Liston is a retired police officer from the Marion (Ohio) Police Department. He relocated to this area with his wife in 2018. Deputy Liston's job as a school resource officer is to assist students and staff in any way possible. He also helps to oversee lunch periods and some academic support sessions.

Deputy Liston’s goal is to establish relationships with students and staff to ensure they easily approach him when they have a concern. He enjoys talking and joking around with students in order to put them at ease and is approachable at all times for students needing assistance