Megan Black, a 2004 Olathe South High School graduate, is the new principal at Olathe West High School, the Johnson County Post first reported.

Black was assistant principal at Olathe West from the school's 2017 opening until this year. She replaces Jay Novacek, who moved over the summer to become Olathe Public Schools' director of athletics and activities.

The transition is already complete. The 2026-27 school year is underway at Olathe West, the fifth high school in the Olathe School District, which enrolls about 1,557 students, according to district records. For families, the change at the top comes with continuity built in: Black helped build the school's culture alongside Novacek for nine years before stepping into the lead role.

Novacek was not just Black's predecessor. He was one of her English teachers at Olathe South.

When Novacek opened Olathe West in 2017, he brought Black on as assistant principal. He told the Post her reputation in curriculum and instruction was one of the reasons he hired her.

"I always thought she might be someone that could take over whenever I left Olathe West," Novacek said.

Black earned her degrees from Emporia State University and taught Spanish in the area before moving into administration. She told the Post that growing up in Olathe schools shaped her career and that both of her parents were teachers.

Black said she wants to build on the foundation Novacek established and keep the transition seamless.

"I really want the community, the students and the teachers to feel like nothing has missed a beat," Black said.

Olathe Public Schools, which serves 28,195 students across 52 schools, has not announced any other high school leadership changes for the 2026-27 year. The Post's full profile of Black, including her career path through Indian Trail Middle School, Gardner Edgerton High School and the Eudora School District, is available here.