Right before the start of the 2022-2023 school year, Chappaqua Central School District welcomed Jamie Block as the new Athletic Director. Mr. Block, a skilled coach and athletic director, is eager to bring his knowledge from his experience as the Athletic Director for the Valhalla School District to Horace Greeley.
Mr. Block is familiar with myriad sports. Growing up, he played soccer, baseball, and football, as well as being a runner and wrestler. Additionally, prior to his arrival at Greeley, Mr. Block coached football, wrestling, and baseball. He recounts fond memories of his time as a coach, saying “I probably learned more from the kids I was coaching than they did from me.” He loved the experience of working with dedicated student-athletes and bringing students to the state championships in all three sports.
During his first year as Chappaqua Central School District’s Athletic Director, Mr. Block’s main priority is to “understand the culture” of Greeley. He hopes to learn more about team traditions, such as celebrating game days by dressing up for different themes. With each high school holding vastly different traditions, Mr. Block feels that, as the leader of Greeley’s athletic program, it is vital for him to understand the school culture and the defining characteristics of our school community. Mr. Block emphasized, “To me, a sense of community is really important. Participation is really important.” In order to build a strong, supportive community, students must not only attend their own games but show support for other Greeley teams as well. Wins and losses, while meaningful, hold less value than student participation and attendance at classmates’ games, matches, and meets. By fostering a supportive, well-connected sports environment, Mr. Block believes he can help the Greeley sports teams become as successful as possible. He hopes that an inclusive community will assist the performance of all student-athletes, helping each team reach their full potential.
Many students, whether they are new or returning to Greeley, “don’t know what normal is,” commented Mr. Block. Because of fewer Covid restrictions and regulations, many students feel that this year will be remarkably different in terms of Greeley athletics. The fall season has certainly been an adjustment, and students learned along with Mr. Block about how our sports teams can reunite post-COVID to play their best. Mr. Block has been navigating his way through the school feeling like “the new kid”; he is finding his bearings and discovering student-life at Greeley. While the culture, traditions, and rules are all new to him, Mr. Block feels that the fall sports season was a very successful start to the school year. “Kids [were] having a really good time,” he added. Seeing students at games and enjoying themselves is certainly a win in his book.
Mr. Block’s message that he wants to share with the entire student body is that, “Everyone comes back to me and says the same thing: I wish I got a little more involved. I wish I worked a little bit harder.” High school is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and Mr. Block believes that students “have to get involved” to make the most of it. He encourages students to try out a Greeley sport no matter their level of athleticism.