Just a few months after hiring an athletics and activities director, Oxbow High is once again on the hunt for a new individual to oversee its sports.
Bill Hopkins, whose hiring as the school’s new athletics and activities director was announced in August, has resigned, effective Jan. 4, Heather Lawler, the Orange East Supervisory Union superintendent of schools, confirmed during a phone interview earlier this week.
“He’s giving us some time to hire and do an overlap between his departure and bringing in the new person,” Lawler said.
Hopkins, 78, who came to Bradford, Vt., from Springfield, Mo., cited health reasons for his resignation in a phone interview.
“I liked the job, I liked the people, especially the principal, who is my immediate supervisor, is excellent,” Hopkins said. “In fact, all of the teaching staff, the coaches — I really enjoyed the coaches — good group.”
Hopkins, who previously coached gymnastics at Southeast Missouri State University and served as the Lindbergh School District’s director of activities and sports in St. Louis, replaced Heidi Wright at Oxbow, who departed this past summer.
“We thank Bill for his service to our students, coaches, advisors, and community while in this position,” Lawler said in a news release announcing Hopkins’ upcoming departure.
Lawler said that there has been “quite a bit of interest” from the community in the new opening and was hopeful they would find a qualified interim athletics and activities director.
While the job posting notes that the position is an interim one, it states, “A strong performance will result in a strong internal candidacy for the AD Position for the 26-27 school year.”
“We’re really looking for stability and longevity in the role,” Lawler said. The district is also looking for someone who can be a good role model, is organized, and community-minded, among other attributes.
Lawler also noted that the requirements for a candidate have been amended in that individuals without a bachelor’s degree will be considered. Previously, the position required a bachelor’s degree, with a master’s degree preferred.
“We’re really opening it up, because what we want is that person, the community connector, the person who can build the program and connect to families and students,” Lawler said.
An interim is anticipated to be named “as soon as possible,” according to the news release. It adds that information on the process for picking a permanent fixture for the role will be announced at a later date.