Randy Lazar: One of three new principals living the dream

Editor’s note: First in a three-part series on MUSD’s newest principals.

On the side, Randy Lazar bakes brownies.

Meet one of the three the newest principals in the Maricopa Unified School District. The other two are Yvette Harpe at Desert Wind Middle School and Gina Chaffin at Santa Cruz Elementary School.

All three said they are fulfilling a career dream to be a principal.

Lazar, who is taking over for the retired Korrin Ledbetter at the district’s only state-graded “A” school, Pima Butte, is not new to Maricopa. He started his career in education in the mid ‘80s teaching fifth and sixth grades at Maricopa Elementary School. He’s originally from Pittsburgh.

“I have traveled many roads since then that brought me back to Maricopa,” he said. “I’m happy to be here. I want to continue the growth of the district.”

Lazar taught for nine years in Pinal and Maricopa counties before becoming an education program specialist at the Arizona Department of Education and then an administrator in schools in the two counties, focusing on special education, gifted, homebound and homeless students.

Key to keeping Pima Butte moving forward, the new principal said, is to work closely with the grade-level teams and assess student progress in reading, writing, science and social studies.

“It’s a matter of monitoring progress frequently; if you see a student slipping or struggling you make adjustments and get these students progressing again,” he said.

“Everyone is here for the students and whatever direction we go, it’s for students.” What he wants teachers and parents to know the most about him is that he is “very committed to education. I got into this field to help students succeed.”

Lazar is married with two children and in his off hours he likes family activities, gardening, cooking and walking. “Wherever I happen to be, I’m walking.”

And, he mentioned, he will be bringing brownies to the staff one of these days.