By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Thursday was a day to celebrate Cheryl Gleason's 45-year career in education, including the past 32 years as an Assistant Executive Director for the Kansas State High School Activities Association.
But KSHSAA Executive Director Bill Faflick admitted that it was also a day he had been dreading -- when the Association said goodbye to Gleason, who will officially retire on July 1.
"I'd really rather postpone it,'' Faflick said during Gleason's retirement reception Thursday at the KSHSAA office. "Anybody that knows me knows that we work hard, and just like I've been taught, and has been modeled here in this building, we work together as a team and we support each other, and when one of your teammates goes away it's a challenge.
"But we know we're better because Cheryl Gleason has been here and that's why we can celebrate today because we can go on to bigger and better things because of Cheryl and her work. As an administrator here at the Kansas State High School Acitivites Association, Cheryl had an impact on the athletes, the coaches, the officials, the administrators across this state and certainly on her home team here in this office.''
Retiring KSHSAA assistant executive director Cheryl Gleason talks to visitors at Thursday's reception at the KSHSAA office. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
A graduate of Columbus High School and Southwestern College, Gleason coached and taught at Caldwell and Osawatomie prior to coming to the KSHSAA in 1989 and has served as administrator for gymnastics, volleyball, bowling, tennis, swimming/diving and golf while also serving as liaison for the KSHSAA Hall of Fame and serving as director for the Kansas Association for Youth program.
"KAY has been a place where she has been very instrumental and I would hate to guess how many lives (Cheryl) has touched in the KAY program. It has to be in the tens of thousands I would guess over the years,'' said KSHSAA Executive Board member Mike Kastle, who also was a member of the board when Gleason was hired in '89.
"I'm guessing that every student who goes to KAY camp goes home recharged, reinvigorated and ready to go with the school year because of the leadership of Cheryl Gleason.''
KSHSAA Assistant Executive Director Cheryl Gleason receives a proclamation from Kansas State Senator Brenda Dietrich Thursday at Gleason's retirement reception. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Former Washburn Rural superintendent and current Kansas State Senator Brenda Dietrich was also on hard Thursday, presenting Gleason with a framed proclamation from the Senate.
"It is such a pleasure to be here and honor Cheryl,'' Dietrich said. "I came back to Kansas in 2001 as superintendent of Washburn Rural and Cheryl was here and honest to goodness I can't imagine KSHSAA without Cheryl.
"She's made such an impact, she's added such value.''
KSHSAA's Gleason: 'It's been a wonderful journey'
EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is a story TopSports.news published in January after Cheryl Gleason announced her retirement.
As Cheryl Gleason begins her final stretch as Assistant Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, she can’t help but savor the exceptional experience the last 31-plus years has been.
“It’s been a good ride, it really has,’’ Gleason said. “It’s been a wonderful journey.’’
Gleason, who joined the KSHSAA staff on Nov. 1, 1989, will retire on July 1 after serving 45 years in the state as a teacher, coach and administrator.
During her tenure with the KSHSAA, Gleason has been responsible for the administration of bowling, golf, gymnastics, sportsmanship summits, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, the KSHSAA Hall of Fame and the Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) program.
Gleason said one of the most rewarding parts of her long tenure has been the friendships she’s made while interacting with student-athletes, coaches, administrators and others involved with KSHSAA activities.
“It’s not just the folks that we work with that host events for us, but it’s the sponsors in KAY, it’s the coaches in every activity, the judges, the officials, and with student activities, just tons of kids who have come and gone,’’ Gleason said. “Early in my career in KAY I used to tell students, “You need to think about going into education, you need to think about being a sponsor,’ and lo and behold we’ve had a ton of them that have done that, not because I told them to, but they made a choice for education and now they’ve giving back and doing what somebody else did for them.
“I’ve just been around a lot of positive people, people that are passionate about activity programs, and when you’re around positive people it makes life fun. And when you’re having fun time flies and 32 years has certainly flown by, but I don’t have any regrets whatsoever.’’
The coronavirus has wreaked havoc on high school activities, not only in Kansas but across the nation since last March, but Gleason said that COVID-19 was not a major factor in her decision to retire.
“Now of course in any job you’re always going to have decisions you have to make that aren’t very popular, and certainly with COVID it’s not been a fun time, but I’m not retiring because of COVID,’’ Gleason said. “I’m retiring because my birth certificate said maybe it’s time.
“I just hope we can get through the rest of the year and offer something to the kids. It probably won’t be what we’re used to having, but I sure hope we can get back to state track and all those activities.’’
A Columbus native, Gleason earned her bachelor’s degree at Southwestern College and her master’s in physical education at Pittsburg State. Gleason taught and coached in Caldwell and Osawatomie prior to joining the KSHSAA.
“Ms. Gleason has been a faithful and valued member of our team as her service and leadership resulted in a positive impact on each member of our office staff while providing significant experiences and growth opportunities for students across Kansas,” KSHSAA executive director Bill Faflick said in a release. “Her energy, creativity, and desire to connect students with learning opportunities have helped prepare students to be successful in life.”
Gleason she has every intention of continuing to attend and support KSHSAA activities as much as she can.
“I’ll get out to volleyball tournaments and things like that,’’ she said. “In fact, my schedule may allow more attendance at activities and I intend to get out and go to those things. I intend to go to another state track meet, and maybe just sit and watch like a normal person, or I know they need volunteers so I’ll be down there helping rake pits or whatever they need.
"You go to something that long, it’s in your system and you can’t get it out, so as long as I’m welcomed and needed I’ll still go to things and participate.’’
