Alexander White on his first year as Hermantown Community Schools Director of Activities: “It’s been going well and been a positive transition from a similar position I held at Aitkin for three years. People at school and in the community have been very welcoming. Wayne (Whitwam, Superintendent) and John (Muenich, High School Principal) have been especially helpful and patient, as I’ve sought to apply my personal touch, such as going paperless as much as possible in running the day-to-day operations of the position. As sort of the central organizational hub for all-things Hermantown activities, we still try to do as much in-person as we can, but looking for digital solutions has helped me discover efficiencies as we support our 40 extra-curricular high school and junior high activities.
“As well as from the administration, support from coaches, athletes, parents and fans has been extraordinary, across the entire spectrum from team and individual sports, and to the fine arts and clubs. I try to attend as many activities as I can when I’m not on duty helping to coordinate one of our events.
“Other big parts of the job are supporting our coaches and advisors, helping with schedules, and working in cooperation with the conference, regional associations, and the Minnesota State High School League. There’s also the activities management piece, such as ticket admissions, scorekeepers and ball-chasers, and equipment purchasing. Kris Zagelmeyer and Dale Mundell have been tremendous with accounting and concessions, with the help of his students.
“Hermantown Community Schools' extra-curricular activities are the front porch of our community. When people attend one of our events, we are committed to ensuring a safe, sometimes-competitive environment where everyone is treated well.
“I give a lot of credit to our community members, coaches and staff for their work to create this culture. We have a very good ratio of teachers who are also giving back by coaching and running the various activities and clubs. As with teaching, it’s mostly about building relationships with their student-athletes, musicians and club members. Coaches are no different than teachers, creating challenging opportunities for students to grow and improve both their knowledge and technique, and to become their better self. A long-term vision is to help develop our students to be well-rounded individuals who can someday themselves give back to their communities. In the short-term, we want our students to continue to compete, perform and grow at a high level while proudly representing their school and community.”