Kris Kellams Named Athletic Director of the Year

North students are proud of their school because of many things: its academics, its curriculum, its staff, its extracurriculars. One of the things that students and faculty alike are definitely proud of is that Kris Kellams, North’s Athletic and Activity Director, has been named “Athletic Director of the Year” for the state of Missouri.

Kellams, who attended Parkway North as a high school student, has always been interested in leading others and originally started her career as a coach at Parkway West, eventually making her way back to North.

“Both of my parents were educators, and I knew from a very young age that I wanted to teach. I started off my career as a teacher and coach at Parkway West. After six years of teaching, I took a leave of absence and went to school in Colorado full time to earn a Masters in

Sports Administration. I was interested in a career that offered a leadership opportunity in education,” said Kellams.

One of the things that Kellams has accomplished at North in order to establish the students as strong leaders is getting them involved in programs such as the Safe and Drug Free program, which advocates for education and advocacy for the dangers of marijuana and alcohol, and Captain’s Council, a program in which students involved in sports come together to discuss the issues of North and how they can be addressed and resolved in a positive way.

“I have always felt that students at North High value helping others and thrive when we put them in leadership positions. I look forward to connecting students with activities they enjoy and watching them grow and mature,” said Kellams.

This advocacy for involvement, which has impacted the students of North for many years, is what head principal Dr. Jenny Marquart views as one of the most impressive things that Kellams has done at North.

“She has been the director for longer than I have been here, and I think her greatest contribution is the effort that she gives to make sure that every student is involved in something. Over the last ten years or so, she has had a strong focus on leadership among students. [She wants them] to make decisions, and I think that is really impactful,” said Marquart.

Kellams advocates for the exploration of interests and believes that students can help each other succeed by getting involved with what they are curious about. She thinks that the environment at North is an accepting place where students are able to express their interests freely and that getting involved is vital in order to make long lasting connections.

“Belonging to something positive, finding their niche, and developing the self confidence to lead helps students leave here with a sense of purpose. That is what motivates me to come to work everyday. It is my sense of purpose,” said Kellams.

by Kyle Wolfe, writing wizard