Dear Parents/Guardians, I wanted to start by introducing myself and welcoming you to the 2025-2026 school year. My name is Samantha Lyles. I have been working for Tri-County for 11 years! I started my career as a paraprofessional and then transitioned to a teaching role, where I taught for 6 years. After that, I had the privilege of opening a Tri-County school in Jackson County at the Eurma Hayes Center in Carbondale. I led there for 2 years. This year, I am excited to return to Ward school for my second year as principal.