By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
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.
Cheryl Gleason
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.’’
