Ann Stewart, Los Alamos High School Athletic Director/Photo Courtesy LAPS
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Ann Stewart has been the Athletic Director at Los Alamos High School for more than eight years. But that is not her only role. In addition to her day job, Ms. Stewart serves as a board member of the New Mexico Athletic Directors Association (NMADA) and on the board of directors for the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).
“I became a part of the NIAAA because of the professional development and growth opportunities they offer,” Ms. Stewart explained. “The networking and camaraderie is also amazing. There is no other job like ours so it is nice to have our group to bounce ideas off of. There are many course offerings and training that help us grow in our profession.”
She is one of 16 board members representing athletic administrators across the country. She serves as the Section 6 representative, representing the states of New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma. She joined the Board of Directors last October. “I attend several board meetings a year, and we serve on committees and subcommittees for the NIAAA,” she said. “I communicate with the state presidents and state associations in my section regarding NIAAA matters.”
She was recently recognized by the NIAAA as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator.
She has been a member of the NMADA Board of Directors since 2016. She also serves on the NMAA Commission and the Bylaws committee. In addition, she, along with another individual, organizes the leadership training for the athletic directors in the state of New Mexico.
Before becoming the LAHS Athletic Director, Ms. Stewart had been a teacher for over 13 years and a coach for over 16 years. “I was a police officer before I was a teacher,” she added.
The most enjoyable part of the AD job is “seeing the kids have fun and be successful at what they enjoy,” she said. The least enjoyable part? “Time away from my family. Fortunately, they like sports and come to a lot of events.”
Five years from now, Ms. Stewart would love to see herself relaxing on a beach. “If only that were true,” she laughed. “I have a kid to put through college so who knows what the next 5 years brings.”
The NIAAA is an accredited organization and is the professional organization for interscholastic athletic administrators. Based in Indianapolis, IN, the NIAAA’s mission is to provide professional development options for directors of athletics, and to enhance the athletic administration profession. With a current individual membership of over 12,000, the NIAAA consists of member state athletic administrator associations in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as internationally. The NIAAA champions the profession of athletic administration through education opportunities, advocating ethics, developing leaders, and fostering community. For more information, visit the NIAAA website at http://www.niaaa.org.