The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Schedule changes keeping AD busy
By Dave Merchant, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
Bryan Schroeder likes what he does. It definitely keeps him busy.
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His official title at Willow Run High School is assistant principal and athletic director.
"My job is about 50-50," Schroeder explains. "The days keep getting longer as there are things to do."
He is in his third year at this position at the school and he has been with the district for eight years prior as a teacher. For seven years he taught physical education and math at the high school and for one year he taught CAD at the middle school.
"The middle school and high school are connected by a gym and a hallway," he said. "This is the first year we have worked with a complex theory with the two schools."
His said that this was an idea from Superintendent Dr. Doris Hope-Jackson.
"It allows the district to work more as complex and draw on the resources of both schools," he said.
Willow Run is a low Class B school in enrollment. There are about 700 students in the school and that number has decreased from around 900 students from a few years ago.
"We are a school of choice," he comments. "We draw students from Inkster, Romulus, Ypsilanti and Van Buren."
He admits that his job is very challenging and could never be done without the support of other staff members.
"Without the support of the secretaries and the other two principals this job would never be done," he said. "We all have to work together as a team."
For him winter this year has been the busiest because of the season change for basketball. There were five basketball teams at the high school and 10 total with the middle school.
The district has not had a problem letting kids play the sports they want to and making it so they can choice what sports they want to participate in.
"Conditioning is important for athletes he said. "The most difficult thing for the athlete is to choice which sport they want to play now that some of the sports have changed season."
Male athletes must now choose between golf and baseball in the spring and girls choose between swimming and volleyball in the fall.
He says they leave it up the coaches if they think an athlete can do both sports in one season.
"Football numbers have been up," he said. "Participation has been increasing and we have been able to get some alumni out to help coach. They have shown a sense of pride in the school."
Schroeder says the job takes a lot of time and sacrifice for him and his family but as a 1992 graduate of Willow Run he wants to give back to the school and the community.
He played baseball in high school and went to the College of the Ozarks on a full-ride as a catcher.
"It gave me the opportunity to see other parts of the country," he said. "It allowed me to grow personally and open horizons."
He was the head baseball coach at Willow Run High School for eight years before going into administration.
"I want to make a difference to students and the community," he said. "In the long run doing this I can help more people."
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