ARLINGTON, VA — July 31, 2012 —  The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) selected Lois J. Rapp as the new Japan District Superintendent. Ms. Rapp is currently serving as the superintendent of DoDEA's Georgia/Alabama District, overseeing ten schools located on Fort Benning, Georgia, and Fort Rucker and Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

In her new position, Rapp will oversee 21 schools and 8,000 students in the Japan District, which is one of four DoDEA school districts in the Pacific Region. The Japan District serves family members of the Yokota Air Base Community, Camp Zama Army Community, NAS Atsugi Community, Commander Fleet Activities, Yokosuka Community, MCAS Iwakuni Community, Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo Community, and Misawa Air Base/NAF Misawa Community.

Ms. Marilee Fitzgerald, DoDEA Director, commented on Ms. Rapp's selection as the new Japan District Superintendent,

"Lois Rapp is an extraordinary leader whose interests are about children and helping them maximize their potential," she said. "Ms. Rapp is a competent, caring leader who has an exceptional ability to relate to parents, teachers, and other school leaders and she understands the elements that are important in school performance and improvement.

"She is the right leader at the right time for our Japan District, which is so geographically dispersed," said Ms. Fitzgerald. "She's the type of leader who can reach out and make everyone feel as if they're sitting right there, right in front of her. Her past experiences as a teacher and leader in public schools in Ohio and in DoDEA schools in Alabama and Georgia are invaluable. I know she will make Japan a place where our families feel confident that the education being delivered in those schools has a solid foundation grounded in students and in success for all."

Prior to her assignment as the Georgia/Alabama District Superintendent, Rapp served as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the South-Western City School District in Columbus, Ohio. She also served as the Assistant Superintendent for Greenan Local Schools as well as a curriculum coordinator for the Clark County Educational Service Center in Springfield, Ohio. Rapp has also been an adjunct professor for Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.

Rapp began her career as an educator in the Springfield City School District as a middle school classroom teacher. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Rapp received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from The Ohio State University. She earned both her master's and Educational Specialist degrees from Wright State University. She has served on the executive board for the Ohio Association of Supervisors of Curriculum and Development (OASCD) and is a past president of the Ohio School Supervisors' Association (OSSA).

DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools located in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Education Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.