NEWS RELEASE NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION 9100 Keystone Crossing, Suite 650, Indianapolis, IN 46240 317-587-1450, FAX 317.587.1451/www.niaaa.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mike Blackburn, NIAAA NIAAA Frank Kovaleski Professional Development Award Gary Stevens, CMAA Saco, Maine
Gary Stevens, CMAA, has become one of the key leaders in athletic administration in the state of Maine - and nationally with the NIAAA - the past 22 years during his positions at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish and Thornton Academy in Saco. Academically, Stevens has always been at the head of his class. He was valedictorian of his class at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln, Maine; graduated cum laude from Harvard College; and posted a 4.0 grade-point average in earning his master's from the University of Southern Maine. He earned an additional master's from St. Joseph's College of Maine in 2015. Stevens was a teacher and coach at two schools in Maine, including his alma mater, for seven years to begin his career in education. He coached basketball, volleyball, softball, cross country, baseball and soccer. Stevens moved to Bonny Eagle High School in 1990, where he taught social studies for eight years and added the duties of activities director in 1996 and assistant principal in 1998. Stevens was activities director at Bonny Eagle for 11 years until moving to his current position of director of student activities at Thornton Academy in 2007. Stevens has been president of the Southwestern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) and Southern Maine Middle School Athletic Conference and was president and secretary of the SMAA Sportsmanship Committee. At the state level, Stevens has devoted many hours to the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) and the Maine Principals Association (MPA). After serving on the MIAAA Board of Directors and several MIAAA committees, Stevens is currently the assistant executive director of the association. He organizes the association's annual fall conference, oversees its Professional Development Program for new athletic directors, and serves as editor and writer for the MIAAA News. Within the state's governing body, Stevens has been chair of the MPA Basketball, Tennis, Cheerleading and Lacrosse Committees. While Stevens has contributed to the NIAAA in many ways over the years, his contributions as a writer and his work with the NIAAA Publications Committee and the Interscholastic Athletic Administration (IAA) Magazine are unparalleled. Stevens served on the Publications Committee for eight years, including two years as vice-chair, and he has written more than 80 articles for the IAA. He also has authored a chapter on contest management for the NIAAA's Guide to Interscholastic Athletic Administration. Stevens recently completed a term on the NIAAA Board of Directors and was chairman of the Marketing Subcommittee. He also was a member of the NIAAA Blue Ribbon Panel in 2010. Stevens has taught Leadership Training courses in six states and has personally taken 48 courses since his first one in 2001. Among his other national contributions, Stevens is a member of the Advisory Board of the National Center for Spectator Sport Safety and Security in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Stevens' commitment to education has earned him many awards, including the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award in 2010, the NFHS Citation in 2016, the MIAAA Gerald Durgin Leadership Award, the MIAAA Martin Ryan Award of Excellence and the MIAAA Athletic Administrator of the Year Award. # # # About the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) The NIAAA is the professional organization for interscholastic athletic administrators. The association is accredited by AdvancED and North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, the NIAAA promotes and enhances the profession of athletic administration for high school and middle school athletic administrators. Since 1977, the NIAAA has served those who lead education-based athletic programs in the nation's schools. With current individual membership of nearly 11,000, the NIAAA consists of members from athletic administrator associations in the 50 states, and the District of Columbia, as well as over 40 international countries. Through its 48-course curriculum, and four levels of certification, the NIAAA is the national leader in providing professional development for athletic administrators, directors, coordinators, and supervisors, as well as those serving in assistant principal/athletic director, or activity/athletic director combined roles that lead school-based sports programs. While providing best-practices and serving as a resource for safe and plentiful participation opportunities for student-athletes, the NIAAA places further focus on member benefits, standards, communication, outreach, and recognition, while emphasizing the exchange of ideas among athletic administrators throughout the nation and the world. NIAAA champions the profession of athletic administration through education opportunities, advocating ethics, developing leaders and fostering community. The NIAAA, located in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, visit the NIAAA website at www.niaaa.org. MEDIA CONTACTS: Mike Blackburn, Executive Director - National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association |
NIAAA Frank Kovaleski Professional Development Award
