New changes to the athletic department were recently arranged for fall 2025. After just one year as athletic director, Mr. Erich Means will be returning to his roots in the science department. In his place will be Mrs. Meredith Kane from the English department and women’s basketball coaching staff. She will be the first female athletic director. Means’ departure from office coincides with another shift amongst the athletic department as Mrs. Carrie Schlenz recently announced her retirement from her position as secretary.
Means is looking forward to his transition back to the science department and the level of connection he creates with his students in the classroom.
“I do tremendously miss the students,” Means said. “We have some really amazing humans [at Whitney]. I felt like I was missing the interactions a lot, and I felt like this is the opportunity for me to come back and not have as much change.”
Means shared that though he enjoyed making a big impact on student athletes while in the athletics department, he would much rather prefer the classroom, where student connections could be built. Starting next year, Means will be teaching AP Biology, marine biology and is considering a geology class. In the past, Means taught marine biology for 16 years at the school and AP Biology for three years.
“[When I] found out that Mr. Means is coming back to teach biology, [it] made me extremely excited because I really like his teaching style, his way of explaining things and the way he leads class,” Elizabeth Papkov said. “I decided if I’m going to take a science class, it should be the subject I enjoy and [with] a teacher that knows how to teach it.”
After news of Means’ return to teaching AP Biology spread, upcoming juniors and seniors seized the opportunity to request to take the class next year, after hearing the positives about Means’ teaching skills or having already had him in the past.
“I had him [for] freshman year biology, and I really liked him because I was kind of scared of biology, and I heard about other people talking about how it sucks,” Papkov said. “I really liked [Means’ teaching style] because there’s only a handful that care about their students like this.”
The position will be filled by Kane, who has been a coach for eight years and is currently involved in the English department, Link Crew and senior mentoring.
“I love supporting students. These combinations made me interested in the job,” Kane said. “I have a degree in sports management, and being able to work within the sports field, but still working with students, was a good challenge.”
The athletics department has never had a female director, which Kane says she is honored to be the first. Her commitment marks a meaningful step toward diversity and inclusion within the school’s leadership. Students and staff have expressed enthusiasm for the fresh perspective Kane will bring to the role, given her background in both academics and athletics.
“I love the fact that we’re able to put women in power, and I think we’re seeing that sort of across our country,” Kane said. “Me being a woman doesn’t mean I’m the best person for the job, but I’m glad that we’re able to have more representation with women in leadership in general.”
While Kane is looking forward to what the future holds as athletic director next year, she will miss the interactions she has had along with the support she has been able to provide to her students as an English teacher.
“I am one of the few queer teachers on campus, so making sure that our LGBTQ+ populations still know that I’m here to support them along with the others [is important],” Kane said. “It’s still something that I want to make sure that I can express to our student body.”
With Means out of the athletics department and Kane in as his replacement, Schlenz will also be marking the end of her 12 year journey on campus. She began as an office clerk and moved into her position as secretary of the athletic department after four years and has been there ever since.
“It’s probably been one of my most favorite jobs I’ve had,” Schlenz said. “I love the contact that I have with all the students, the athletes, the relationships I’ve made with the staff here, the coaches, it’s been amazing.”
Though many believe moving on is a hard decision, Schlenz shared that she believes this is her time to pass the role to someone younger and move on to the next chapter of her life. While he is ready for the change, Means is grateful for the relationship he has gotten to build working in office with Schlenz and members of the coaching staff and is looking to continue building his legacy here on campus.
“I get to work with some amazing people in this office [such as] Mrs. Schlenz and with the coaching staff that we have here,” Means said. “I’ve been at this school since the beginning and I think that I bleed maroon, maybe more so than a lot of people.”
With all of the changes occurring for the next school year, different preparations are taking place for Means, Schlenz and Kane in order to feel confident for their new roles.
“It’s going to be a new adventure with a new athletic director,” Schlenz said. “It’s time for change and new procedures [in the office] and I wish them the best of luck,” Schlenz said. “You know, you’re working at Whitney, so it can’t be any better than that.”
by LILA COMBS, PAIGE FRIESEN & JEZLYN SOTELO
