The Madras Pioneer

Brown to step down

MHS athletic director asked to resign

Joe McHaney

February 14, 2012

Madras High School will have a new athletic director next school year.

Paul Brown, who is serving as the school's athletic director for the third year, will resign.

"I was asked to step down," Brown said. "I was taken back by it, and I would have liked to have continued on, but that is not the way the district wants to proceed, so I will respect their wishes."

Brown, who will finish out the school year, was hired by 509-J in April of 2009. He replaced Steve Johnson, who was laid off that year in an effort to reduce the school budget by nearly $50,000 per fiscal year.

"Paul has asked for reassignment, so we're trying to see how all that will look within the budget to have him on as a teacher," MHS principal Sarah Braman-Smith said. "We're looking at how the interview process will go for a new athletic director, but I'm hopeful to have the applicant pool closed shortly after spring break."

Prior to serving as the athletic director, Brown taught at MHS for 24 years, in addition to coaching boys soccer and track and heading the wrestling program for 14 years.

"I'll continue my normal duties until the end of the school year, and I hope to go back to teaching next year," Brown said. "Unfortunately things happen, and I am pretty disappointed."

Brown is the second athletic director since Margaret Sturza, who retired in 2007 after 13 years in the position.

"I'm appreciative of the time he has put into the program over the past three years and we will work together to see what kind of a role he can play within the athletic program, but as for the athletic director, we're looking for different direction," Braman-Smith said.