Betsy Woodward, above, is the new athletic director at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. By Monique Labbe
Deer Isle—The Deer Isle-Stonington High School athletic teams are now under the direction of new athletic director Betsy Woodward.
Formerly a special education teacher at the elementary school for eight and a half years, Woodward also served as the school’s athletic director. When she took over as physical education teacher at DISHS this year, it was decided that the vacant athletic director position would be a natural fit with the subject she taught during school hours.
On a weekly basis, Woodward is responsible for anything from scheduling games and practices, checking in with coaches and students, arranging for referees to officiate home games, attending home games, and even putting in some manual labor to make sure there are fresh lines painted on the soccer field.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” said Woodward.
As a former soccer, basketball and softball player at George Stevens Academy, a two-year player on the St. Joseph’s College softball team, and a former middle school and high school coach, Woodward is no stranger to athletics in Maine.
Woodward said her favorite part of the athletic director position is getting to watch the players improve their skills from the beginning of the season to the end.
“I get to be at every home game, so I get to see them get excited about the sport and the way they’re playing,” she said.
Woodward added that it is great to watch students who might struggle with academics shine in the spotlight on the athletic field or court.
“It’s just great to watch a kid find what fits for them,” she said.