It could be said, in a turn of phrase, that Katelyn Whelchel is a true ‘blue blood.’
Whelchel graduated Perry High School in 2015, and whether it was in the stars or just the course of normal events, she found her way back to her alma mater in 2019 to teach kindergarten.
The Buena Vista grad taught kindergarten in the 2020-2021 school year as well before moving up the third grade for the last school year.
Now she is back in the high school, this time as the new athletic director. She will also serve as the new head volleyball coach, a sport, along with softball, she had played as a Jayette.
“I have always wanted to be in a leadership role,” Whelchel said, “and athletics have always been important to me. So are other activities outside of sport, and I was involved in several when I was here as a student. We are lucky at Perry to have so many ways a student can be active (outside the classroom).”
“I am not sure I had it all planned out like this, and I didn’t expect this (opportunity) so soon, but I have always wanted to step up into a position of leadership,” she added. “I am currently working on my Master’s Degree in School Administration and expect that will help me and perhaps open some doors.”
Whelchel said she was aware several athletic directors also served as assistant principals or other administrative roles at their school and said she wanted to make sure those future possibilities were open to her.
The Jayette volleyball team will start varsity competition Saturday in Rockwell City at the South Central Calhoun Tourney. Perry will open home action Sept. 8 with their own tournament, with DM East, Earlham, Nodaway Valley, Ogden, and South Hamilton expected to compete.
