Great story in the Ticker this morning about leadership, student-athletes, and the work Justin Thorington and his team are doing at Central High School.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Justin, and one thing that stuck with me was his framing of “educational athletics” and student-athletes.
The distinction matters.
Athletics isn’t separate from public education. It’s another place where students learn about leadership, teamwork, resilience, accountability, belonging, and how to show up for others. Our gyms, fields, and courts are classrooms, too.
Those lessons connect directly to TCAPS’ mission, our 2030 Vision, our district values*, and our Portrait of a Graduate**.
We’re not just preparing students for the next test, the next grade, or the next competition.
We’re supporting and empowering young people to become capable, compassionate humans who contribute to their communities and thrive throughout their lives.
Thank you to Justin, his coaches, and everyone who supports our student-athletes for the work you do to help our kids grow—not just as athletes, but as people.
Worth a read in the Traverse City Ticker here: https://bit.ly/4hQrEfH
* Our mission, vision, values and 2030 goals: https://bit.ly/tcaps-values
** Our Portrait of a Graduate: https://bit.ly/4qISKtv
Leave a Reply