February 2025 Newsletter
Education-Based Athletics - Best Learning Experience Available!
Mark Armstrong, CMAA - NSIAAA Executive Director
I am constantly reminded about the impact that school activity programs have on the lives of our students. This only happens through the work and support of athletic administrators and coaches who have this direct impact upon these students. No other place will these kids gain the leadership and character-building training that these programs provide! As we move into 2025, I encourage you and your coaches to always strive to get better. The NSIAAA provides many opportunities to help athletic administrators gain valuable knowledge and strategies that help your programs strive for excellence. In the end, our students have a much greater chance of “winning” in life.
The NSIAAA works to continue to provide you, the Athletic Administrator, with the resources you need to be your best!
The NSIAAA continues to make an impact upon Athletic Administration across the country through their involvement and work at the national level and the NIAAA. We have several Nebraska athletic administrators who have been, and continue to serve our national organization through participation on the board of directors, committees, and workshop presenters.
We are very proud of the work the organization continues to do in the area of increasing our NSIAAA Membership. We had a record setting year in 23-24, which resulted in the NSIAAA receiving yet another NIAAA Membership Commendation at the NADC last month. As we progress through 24-25, we have again broken our membership record! As of Mid-January, we stand at 313 members, 10 more than last year! With time still available, we’d love to see that number even higher! Great work by our Membership Committee under the direction of Marc Mroczek!
We made final preparations for the upcoming 2025 Spring Awards Luncheon, to be held at Wilderness Ridge GC on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 starting at Noon. Multiple award recipients have been selected from nominations made to the board at our last meeting. We hope you can join us to help honor those who are very deserving of the various recognitions. We do ask all planning to attend to register your intent so we can get an accurate meal count. Information will be sent out very soon!
NCA & NSIAAA will be evaluating sportsmanship at the State Basketball Tournaments once again. If you would like to help with this (and we always need help!), please contact Darin Boysen, NCA Executive Director at darin.ncacoach.org They will need help with both the girls and boys tournaments again this year, so volunteer if you can give up some time to do so!
The NSIAAA is also a sponsor of the State Cheer & Dance Competition in Grand Island - February 20-22, 2025. This is coming up quickly, and if you can help volunteer, it is a huge help in running the event. The NSIAAA will again be involved with setup on Wednesday, February 19th if you are able to let. If so, please contact Mark Armstrong.
The Scholarship Deadline for the 2025 NIAAA Scholarship Applications is February 25, 2025, which is coming up QUICKLY!!! Qualifying seniors can download the application form from the NSIAAA website. Completed forms should be emailed to mark.armstrong81@gmail.com prior to the 2/25/2025 deadline.
NIAAA Section V will be hosting the 2025 LTI Institute to be held in Sioux City, June 9-11, 2025, in conjunction with the Section V Meetings. There will never be a better time to work toward certification than during this time! The opportunity to take up to LTI courses from national faculty as well as prep and take the CAA Exam (if qualified to do so) will exist right in our backyard! Stay tuned for the class schedules and times in the near future!
We hope to see you all at the upcoming Spring Awards Banquet. Until then, take care of yourselves and keep promoting the benefits of educational activities at your schools!
NIAAA National Conference in Austin, Texas RECAP!
Mark Armstrong, CMAA - NSIAAA Executive Director
The NIAAA National Athletic Directors Conference was held in Austin, TX December 13 - 17, 2024. The NIAAA continues to push the attendance record each year, and this was no exception. This included many Nebraska AD’s, along with family members.
Some highlights from the conference, including those of Nebraska significance:
Steve Throne, CMAA has assumed the role of NIAAA President after serving this past year as President-Elect! We look forward to Steve’s leadership this year. Congratulations Steve!
After a successful campaign, we are very excited to announce that Nate Larsen was elected by the attending members to the NIAAA Board of Directors as the Region D At-Large Representative. Nate has done a tremendous job preparing himself for this opportunity and we are so excited to see him elected. Nate started his term at the conclusion of the conference.
The 2024 NIAAA Award Winners were recognized in person at a reception and awards night on Tuesday, December 17. Our own Nate Larsen of O’Neill received the Bruce D. Whitehead Distinguished Service Award, and Bill Fitzgerald, represented by his daughter, received the Thomas E. Frederick Award, selected by the NIAAA Past President’s Council!
Numerous committee meetings occurred, with Jack Tarr, CMAA taking over as the Chairman of the NIAN Committee, with Nate Larsen, CMAA, and Dr. Mitchell Stine serving on national committees as well. Anyone interested in serving on an NIAAA committee is encouraged to submit an application!
Several Nebraska attendees took advantage of all the LTI classes that were offered, and are now that much closer to CAA or CMAA certification!
The Nebraska delegation was pleased to take part in the Opening General Session and the Closing Business meeting, as well as five members representing Nebraska at the NIAAA Delegate Assembly.
The Nebraska activities directors attended numerous professional development sessions offered throughout the five days of the conference.
We also enjoyed the hospitality provided by several of our state sponsors at the Section V Hospitality Room, as well as others we attended off-site - they were a welcome addition to the evening schedules!
In 2025, the 56th Annual NADC will be held in Tampa, FL, at the Tampa Convention Center, from December 12-16, 2025. Make plans to attend and grow professionally. It is without doubt the best professional development an athletic administrator can take part in.
District III AD Spotlight
Quin Conner - Laurel-Concord-Coleridge
My wife Allie and I have been married for 2 years and had our child in March of 2024. My wife also works in education as the secondary Social Studies teacher at Pender.
I was born and raised in Valentine, Nebraska and take a ton of pride in being a lifelong badger. After graduating from Valentine High School, I attended Doane University where I played basketball for 4 years and obtained my Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Social Science Education. I have since completed my Curriculum Instruction Masters from Doane University and more recently my Masters in Administration from Wayne State.
I taught Social Studies and was the assistant basketball coach at Conestoga for 2 years fresh out of college. I then took the Social Studies and head boys basketball job at Maxwell, where I spent the next 3 years. In my time at Maxwell I also took on the duty of AD. I am now in my second year as the Activities Director and first year as head boys basketball coach here at LCC. My wife and I have truly enjoyed our time thus far in Northeast Nebraska.
Education-based athletics and activities has had a profound impact on myself going through school, and I know how important of an impact it has on our students. The life lessons that students gain from their involvement in athletics and activities are truly priceless. Watching students build relationships with each other on teams, clubs, groups, etc. and being able to lean on one other when they face adversity are skills that you will not gain in any other realm. The few years that our students will have with extra curricular activities will be some of the best years of their lives, and will have a profound impact for many years to come.
LCC is in our first full year in a brand new high school and elementary school. We were able to add a multipurpose gym space that we house practices, as well as youth practices in throughout the school year. In addition, we painted our main gym with a fresh coat of white, put new lights in, and redesigned our court with black as the main color, as well as redoing the floor in our secondary gym. It has been really cool to see such a long construction project that has provided numerous challenges and obstacles over the past couple years finally come together and truly be something our community can be proud of. We also have recently joined the newly formed Greater Northeast Activities Conference, and are very excited for what the future of that endeavor has in store for our school.
NIAAA Awards to be Presented at the
2025 NSIAAA Spring Awards Banquet
The NSIAAA Spring Awards Banquet is less than a month away! Make plans to attend this event on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Wilderness Ridge GC in Lincoln. Check-in starts at 11 am, with the banquet beginning at Noon.
We are honoring many deserving NSIAAA Athletic Administrators, who were nominated by their peers and selected by the NSIAAA Board for these honors. Many of you work with these folks every week in your conferences. We hope you can all join us at the Spring Banquet to help us honor these outstanding people in our profession!
As a member, this banquet cost is part of your membership. Please be sure to take a moment to fill out the Spring Banquet Attendance Confirmation Form on your Final Forms Account- this will help us with planning for our numbers in attendance. This is due by February 20, 2025
2025 NSIAAA Spring Awards Banquet - Award Recipients
NSIAAA Gdowski/King Student Scholarship Awards:
To Be Determined
NSIAAA Outstanding Service Awards:
Sheila Lemmert - Lincoln Northeast
Carlos Flores - Sidney
Doug Bergman - Arapahoe
Scott and Cindy Spilinek - Weeping Water
Mike Christen - Wahoo
Tammy Myers - O’Neill
Greg Rice - Omaha
Jennifer Little - Malcolm
Clayton Heath - Lincoln Northeast
Jeremy Shipe - KCNI/KBBN - Thedford
Justin Rethorst - Sandhills-Thedford
Brian Haas - Kearney
Hastings Physical Therapy - Adams Central
Scott Kratzer - Amherst
Todd Goshorn - Grand Island
Jeff Rowan - Lexington
Brenda Davies - Hemingford
NSIAAA Award of High Distinction:
Darin Boysen - Nebraska Coaches Association
NSIAAA Meritorious Service:
Scott Anderson - Fremont - District 2 Representative
Les Roggenkamp - Southwest - District 5 Representative
NSIAAA Athletic Administrator Retirement Awards:
To Be Announced
NSIAAA District Athletic Administrators of the Year
District I Athletic Administrator of the Year: Jay Staehr - Aurora
District II Athletic Administrator of the Year: Scott Anderson - Fremont
District III Athletic Administrator of the Year: Steve Neptune - West Holt
District IV Athletic Administrator of the Year: Scott Rezac - Ogallala
District V Athletic Administrator of the Year: Bryan Fangmeyer - Eustis-Farnam
District VI Athletic Administrator of the Year: Bec Ray - Thedford
NSIAAA Assistant Athletic Administrator of the Year:
Jim Jacobsen - Lincoln Southeast
NSIAAA Middle School Athletic Administrator of the Year:
Jamie Stinson - Millard North Middle School
Mike Purdy / Mike McMahon NSIAAA Emerging Athletic Administrator Award:
Sara Fjell - Elkhorn High School
NSIAAA President’s Award:
Dr. JJ Toczek, Lincoln Public Schools
NSIAAA State Athletic Administrator of the Year:
Dr. Mitchell Stine - Norris
NSIAAA President Message
Dear NSIAAA Members-
I hope this message finds everyone having a successful winter athletics and activities season. As I reflect over the past year, and my tenure as president of the NSIAAA, I have many things to be grateful…thankful for. Thankful for the phenomenal leadership of the NSIAAA Board of Directors and Leadership Team. Thankful for the LPS Athletic Directors, their respective high school Athletic Administrative Assistants, the LPS Athletics and Activities District Staff, and the HAC AD Cohort. And, most importantly, thankful for my supportive family and friends, and ever-evolving faith. In school, athletics, activities and life, we must continue to be thankful and show gratitude towards the wonderful people who help us survive and thrive through our respective journeys.
Thank you to the NSIAAA Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team for your hard work and dedication to our outstanding organization, to NSIAAA Executive Director, Mark Armstrong for your continued leadership, to NSIAAA President Elect, Dr. Mitchell Stine for your knowledge, understanding and willingness to always step up…step in if and when needed, to NSIAAA Vice President, Sara Fjell for your integrity, energy and your willingness to challenge and stretch those you lead so as to empower them to learn, grow and think outside the box, to NSIAAA Secretary/Treasurer, Jenny Wagner for always being cool, calm, collected and consistent in all that you say and do, and to NSIAAA Past President, Nate Larsen for always modeling best practice and doing things with correctness, value and integrity. Thank you NSIAAA Executive Teammates for helping me grow personally and professionally as a servant leader.
Thank you to the LPS Athletic Directors, Kara Graham, Jim Jacobsen, Zach Limbach, Joe Schlegelmilch, Jeremey Schroeder, Greg Lesiak, Andrew Sherman, Leann Boerema, Pat Gatzemeyer, Richard Bollen, Christina Nevitt, Matt Faulkner, Nate Renter, James Thompson, Matt Uher and Jeff Pierce for being team players and caring leaders, to the LPS high school Athletic Administrative Assistants, Michelle Jones, Kristy Manzitto, Carin Sandman, Nicole Kubik, Julie Trembly, Vicky Filipek, Allison Elliot and Cindy Hennen for your effectiveness and efficiency and for always keeping your respective offices running, to LPS Athletics and Activities District Staff, Adam Bonesteel, Julie Dansky, Jake Fincham and Matt Bertsch for your hard work and dedication to LPS’s education-based athletics and activities program and for always making coming to work an enjoyable experience, and to the HAC AD Cohort for your collaborative leadership in helping run a successful and competitive Nebraska Class “A” Conference. Thank you to the LPS Athletics and Activities and HAC Crews for being phenomenal teammates and for always putting our kids and coaches first.
Thank you to my mom Dotti Toczek, my sister Kim Toczek-Wilson and brother-in-law Brad, my brother Kevin Toczek and my sister-in-law Beth, my nieces, Molly, Maisey and Jessie, my nephews, Bryce and Colton, as well as to my friends…too numerous to mention, for your caring, kindness and support, and for always being “guides by my side.” Thank you family and friends for always reminding me to be firm, yet fair, friendly and forgiving, to always focus on the fundamentals of life and to continue to lean on my Catholic faith.
As I look back on 2024, and begin my transition to the NSIAAA Past Presidency, I am thankful…grateful for all those who helped me survive and thrive in both my personal and professional lives. Thankful for my family and friends, and ever-evolving spirituality. Thankful for my LPS Athletics and Activities Teammates and HAC AD Cohorts who always put kids and coaches first. Thankful for the NSIAAA Board of Directors and Leadership Team for being valued colleagues. I am truly grateful…thankful for all of you.
Good luck to everyone as we wrap up winter extracurriculars and prepare for spring. Congratulations to 2025 NSIAAA President, Dr. Mitchell Stine, NSIAAA President Elect, Sara Fjell, and NSIAAA Vice President, Nathan Dietz as you begin your respective leadership positions. Thank you again for allowing me to represent the NSIAAA. It is because of our stellar organization that we are the frontrunners and change agents at both the state and national levels when it comes to education-based interscholastic athletics and activities.
Keep up the outstanding work!
-Dr. JJ Toczek, CAA
NSIAAA President
District IV AD Spotlight
Shawn Cole - Perkins County
I’m currently in my 2nd year employed as the Activities Director at Perkins County High School. This is my 19th year teaching at Perkins County and 21st total in education. I have the most supportive family an educator can ask for. Monica, my wife of 20 years this February. We have 3 kids, Libby (senior), Alex (Sophomore), and Macey (8th). Monica just finished her 17th season coaching volleyball at Perkins County.
I graduated high school from Republican Valley in 2000. I went to UNK to get my undergraduate degree; Health and Physical Education K-12, and graduated in December 2004. I got my first job at Kearney High School as a SPED Para. I took the Perkins County Physical Education position in August 2006 and have taught at PC since. I completed my master's from UNK, Principalship 7-12, 2012. In 2017, I started my ED Specialist Degree from Wayne State. I was the K-12 PE teacher at Perkins County for 17 years and for the last 2, I have been primarily at the high school. I have coached many sports at Perkins County including Head boys basketball from 2008-2021. I have also coached high school track, high school girls golf, junior high football, and high school girls basketball.
Education-based athletics in high school plays a vital role in fostering the development of students. Beyond physical fitness and skill development, these programs teach essential life lessons such as teamwork, leadership, discipline, and resilience. They provide a structured environment where students have to balance academics and extracurricular activities, reinforcing time management and goal-setting skills. Participation in sports fosters a sense of school pride and community, helping students build meaningful relationships with peers, coaches, teachers, administrators, and community members. By emphasizing character and personal growth alongside athletic achievement, education-based athletics prepare students to succeed both on and off the field, equipping them with tools to thrive in college, careers, and life.
NSIAAA President-Elect Message
Dear Friends of the NSIAAA,
I hope this message finds you well and that you were able to spend quality time with family and friends during the Holiday Season. I am humbled to serve the Nebraska membership on a four-year Executive Leadership Journey, this year as the NSIAAA’s President-Elect.
The NSIAAA Board of Directors and the Executive Leadership Team have worked hard this academic year to continue to deliver EXCELLENCE to the membership. The Fall Conference was another successful event with quality breakout sessions, ample networking opportunities, and general sessions focused on student-athlete mental health, legal issues, and personal leadership development. For this Fall Conference, many of the sessions were led by Nebraska Athletic Administrators, a goal of the NSIAAA Board. The success of the Fall Conference on an annual basis would not happen without your attendance and the NSIAAA’s Corporate Sponsors.
I want to thank the Executive Leadership Team for their commitment, professionalism, and collaboration as we have continued our good work this year. The organization's success could not be achieved without these Elite human beings, led by NSIAAA President Dr. JJ Toczek, Lincoln Public Schools District Athletic & Activities Administrator. Collectively, this talented group of Education-Based Leaders and the entire NSIAAA Board has positioned the Association for long-term success. The Executive Leadership Team attended the 2024 National Conference in December in Austin, Texas, and enjoyed a night of fellowship celebrating the past year's accomplishments while embracing the opportunities that will present themselves in 2025 and beyond.
Approximately 40 Athletic Administrators represented Nebraska at the 2024 National Conference with several representing our state in key National Leadership posts. A special congratulations to two of those individuals; Mr. Steve Throne, CMAA, serving as the NIAAA President for the next year culminating at the 2025 National Conference in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Nate Larsen, CMAA, was elected to an at-large position and will serve a 3-year term on the NIAAA Board. I observed Nate execute an exceptional campaign while in Austin valuing passion and service to the organization supported by genuine personal connections with colleagues. Congratulations to Steve, Nate, and their respective families for these wonderful honors of serving Athletic Administrators across the Nation!
As the calendar turned to 2025, a New Year always allows us to reflect on our many blessings while developing goals to achieve our preferred future. At the opening session of the National Conference, attendees were asked by NIAAA Board Member Anthony Fisher, CMAA, to LISTEN, SHARE, PAUSE, and LOVE. During his Board President remarks at a NIAAA Awards Reception, Tol Gropp, CMAA, wondered what would become of our world if we all SMILED just a little bit more. Finally, at the closing general session, Stephen Mackey challenged us to be ELITE ENCOURAGERS and BELIEVE in PEOPLE until they believe in themselves. Because of all of you and my time spent with individuals such as Anthony, Tol, Stephen, and our Executive Leadership Team, my goals for 2025 are clear. I wish the same for all of you and those closest to you.
Dr. Mitchell Stine, CMAA
NSIAAA President-Elect
NIAAA Scholarship Deadline Approaching
The NIAAA Scholarship application deadline is quickly approaching! The application can be found at https://www.nsiaaa.org/nsiaaa-scholarship. The deadline is February 25, 2025.
Application forms are to be emailed to: Mark Armstrong, CMAA - NSIAAA Executive Director at mark.armstrong81@gmail.com.
The NIAAA scholarships are open to seniors whose athletic administrator is a member of the NSIAAA/NIAAA. If an AD needs to renew their membership, they can do so on the NSIAAA website (nsiaaa.org) by clicking the “Manage Membership” button at the top right of the page.
The NIAAA Scholarship (open to seniors who qualify) is a national competition that begins in each state:
There will be ONE MALE & ONE FEMALE Recipient per NSAA District ($250)
ONE Male & ONE Female will be selected from the District Winners as the OVERALL Nebraska Winner (Additional $500) and this OVERALL Winner will move on to the NIAAA Section V Scholarship competition in June.
Criteria:
1. Applicant must be a Senior
2. Applicant must have achieved at least one (1) of the following:
(A) minimum of B+ average;
(B) Ranked in the top 25% of class;
(C) ACT score of 24 or an SAT score of 1100 (Math and Reading)
3. Applicant must have participated in two sports for at least two years in each sport
4. Applicant must have earned at least one varsity letter in each of two sports
5. Applicant must complete the attached scholar/essay application
6. Applicant must have a letter of recommendation from the high school athletic administrator/director
7. The school’s Athletic Administrator must be an NIAAA member and a member of their respective state athletic administrators association.
8. The principal or athletic director must sign the application to ensure that the academic information submitted is accurate.
9. All hard copy materials must be postmarked or electronic materials sent to the NIAAA State Liaison in your respective state (Mark Armstrong, NSIAAA Executive Director at mark.armstrong81@gmail.com) by your state's deadline. (Nebraska - February 25, 2025)
Nate Larsen – LTI & Certification Coordinator
Hello & happy February everyone, & best of luck to your teams as they gear up for the postseason portion of our winter athletics & activities!
If you find yourself looking for a class needed to finish your certification, or are just looking to add some resources to your toolbox, there are some options available through your NIAAA portal. The first is taking an online course. These courses are available at any time & you can start/stop them at your convenience when you are taking them. The courses available online are 501, 502, 503, 504, 506, 508, 510, 700, 701, 901, 902, 903 & 904. The next option is a webinar. Webinars are from 6pm - 10pm Eastern Time & you must register through your NIAAA portal by 1pm Eastern Time one business day before the scheduled course date. Registration is currently open & the courses offered are as follows:
706 - Monday, 2/24720 - Wednesday, 2/26
799 - Monday, 3/3
790 - Tuesday, 3/4
619 - Wednesday, 3/5
705 - Thursday, 3/6
631 - Monday, 3/10
727 - Tuesday, 3/11
638 - Wednesday, 3/12
603 - Monday, 3/17
628 - Tuesday, 3/18
709 - Wednesday, 3/19
625 - Thursday, 3/20
621 - Monday, 3/24
635 - Tuesday, 3/25
Course descriptions for all Leadership Training Courses can be found here.
This summer we are going to offer courses at the Section V Summer Institute in North Sioux City, SD June 9 & 10 for sure with the possibility of courses on the 11th as well. I am currently working with the other Section V state coordinators to solidify our lineup of courses. We will also be offering courses at the NCA clinic again this summer. If you know of a new AD starting next year, please be sure to get their name & contact information to Jack Tarr so we can invite them to take 501 & 502 for free. Any of you still needing those courses are more than welcome to pay the $100 registration fee & join us as well. We will also be offering 504 & 506 for 2nd year ADs & anyone else needing those courses. I’m still working with Darin Boysen on what the schedule for those courses will look like. Your district reps will share all of this information with you as soon as we have it finalized.
If you have any questions regarding Leadership Training Courses or certification, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
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