LUCAS — Lesa Deter doesn’t just have a knack for numbers. She truly enjoys them.
“I love accounting and I always have,” said Deter, recently hired as the treasurer of Lucas Local Schools. “That’s where my heart has always been, so I followed it.”
Deter began her role as treasurer on Feb. 1.
“I think the future is really bright with what Lesa brings to the table,” said Lucas Supt. Brad Herman. “Her enthusiasm for the new position, her experience as an assistant treasurer and her knowledge of the local community are going to be great assets for the district.”
Before coming to Lucas, Deter worked for 18 years as the assistant treasurer of the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center. Prior to that, she was an assistant manager at Mechanics Bank.
Deter said she applied for the position in part because of the opportunity to advance, but also because of the district’s rural setting.
“It’s a rural school and I’m familiar with the rural school atmosphere. It’s where my heart decided to go,” she said.
Deter said her favorite parts of her job at Lucas are taking a more active role in decision-making on how the school district operates, and helping appropriate money so it best serves the students.
Deter also praised the work of outgoing treasurer Larry Lifer, who is assisting with the transition through the end of the school year.
“He’s a wonderful mentor. He’s very organized,” she said. “He was very good at keeping everything in place.”
Herman also praised Lifer’s work for the district.
“Larry’s been treasurer for Lucas for over nine years,” Herman said. “We’ll miss Larry’s financial knowledge and organizational skills. I think they’ve been a great asset for the Lucas school district in his years here.”
Deter said she’s grateful for the warm, friendly welcome she’s received and looks forward to meeting more members of the Lucas community.
“We’re open here. Well, not really with COVID, but if they call first I can come outside or something,” Deter said with a chuckle. “I haven’t got to meet a lot of people because of COVID, but it’s been very good getting acquainted with the people I have met.”
