Dolores RE-4A has a new secondary dean of students and athletic director.
Following the departure of former assistant principal and athletic director Jimmie Lankford – who resigned in July to accept a position to teach and coach soccer at Little Elm High School in Little Elm, Texas – the district split the position back into two separate roles.
After advertising “in-house” and conducting interviews, the interview committee suggested that Dane Gallaher be hired as the new dean of students for grades 7-12 and Chris Trusler be hired as athletic director for grades 6-12.
The recommendations were presented at the Tuesday, July 19 board meeting and were approved, superintendent Scott Cooper confirmed.
As dean of students, Gallaher, who has experience as athletic director and as a fill-in administrator and has taught industrial arts for the past 16 years at Dolores, will take over the assistant principal duties.
“It’s a good job for me and I think it will be exciting to change hats here,” he said. “It’s going to be working with kids on a new level.”
“I’ve got a really good rapport with the kids in the shop,” he continued. “But I will be doing a lot of the day-to-day discipline so I really want to get ahead on that and be active in the hallways and talking to kids and trying to identify problems before I have to deal with the kids on a punitive basis.”
While Gallaher handles Lankford’s former assistant principal responsibilities, Trusler will take over as athletic director.
Trusler is entering his fifth year involved with Dolores athletics. He led the middle school wrestling program during the 2012-13 season and has been at the helm of the high school football program since 2013.
He will continue to coach the Bears, and as AD, he’ll be involved in the logistics of each athletic program.
“I’ll handle the scheduling, hiring of coaches, getting referrees, people to work the chain crews, line judges for volleyball, setting up transportation and overseeing the athletic budget,” Trusler said listing a few of his duties.
“I’m excited to continue working with the school district and working with the athletics and activities here at the school,” he continued. “And continuing the successes of former athletic director Jimmie Lankford.”
