Arnold chosen as assistant AD (08/15/2008)

Jay Schools created a new position, and then filled it will another familiar face.

Continuing the pattern of internal promotion, long-time Jay County High School teacher and coach Bev Arnold was selected Thursday as the school's interim assistant athletics director.

Last week former assistant principal/athletics director Phil Ford was promoted to principal to replace the departed Jeremy Gulley. Ford's position was then filled by Ted Habegger, a long-time physical education, health and driver's education teacher and former coach at JCHS.

"I'd like to say we're rewarding employees who have done a great job in the school district," said Jay Schools superintendent Tim Long this morning. "Her and Mr. Habegger and Mr. Ford are veterans in the school corporation. I think they're naturals. We feel very good about the team that we've assembled at the high school."

Arnold has taught at JCHS since the school opened in 1975, and has been the girls swim coach for all of those years. She also served as gymnastics coach for 20 years, and has been an assistant girls soccer coach for nine seasons.

"I'm very excited to have the opportunity to work in Jay County athletics in this capacity," said Arnold, who began her career as a teacher and coach at South Adams. "It's something that I've had in the back of my mind to do, but I never really was ready to give up the coaching. I guess what attracted me to this was that it is an interim position, so it is one year. So if things don't work out, I can go back to coaching. It was kind of a win-win situation."

This will be the first year for JCHS with an assistant athletics director. Previously the department included only an AD and athletics secretary, but Long said he expects the assistant job to continue to be in place beyond the 2008-09 school year. He said the administrative structure at the high school will become more clear in January, when the board plans on selecting its principal for the 2009-10 school year and beyond.

Ford, Habegger and Arnold are all on one-year contracts in their new positions.

Arnold's duties will include game supervision, management and ticket distribution in a support role for Habegger.

"It's going to be an experience for her," said Long.

"We're excited, she's excited. It should be a great thing for the school corporation."

In accepting the job, Arnold vacated her positions as girls swim coach and assistant girls soccer coach. Both of those posts, as well as the physical education/health teaching job vacated by Habegger, have been posted. Long said he expects to have those positions filled within the next two weeks.

Arnold will continue to teach physical education.[[In-content Ad]]