The 2018-19 school year is underway, and St. Michael-Albertville’s two middle schools have a change to their administrative teams. Up until this school year, the two middle schools shared one activities director, Scott Sukalski. Sukalski retired at the end of last year, and the school district decided to revamp the role to have one new administrator in each building that would work as activities director half-time and serve as a dean of students the other half. District leaders cited growing enrollment and growing participation in activities and athletics as reasons for the change.
Ryan Antony now serves as the activities director/dean of students at Middle School West, and David Holler for Middle School East.
Ryan Antony
Antony is a familiar face in St. Michael-Albertville, and even to Middle School West. He taught science for a total of nine years at Middle School West and two other metro school districts, then two years ago he became an instructional coach at STMA High School. He has also been a tennis coach for the past 16 years, three of them in STMA. Though he won’t be able to remain on as a coach, Antony said he would continue to coach community education’s summer tennis program. This new role is his first as an administrator, and he said he’s excited for the new challenge.
“I grew up playing sports and doing marching band,” Antony said. “The life lessons and skills I carry from those experiences drive who I am today. I am honored to serve the community in trying to provide that for all of our kids.”
After teaching in two schools before joining STMA, Antony said it was the quality of STMA schools and the community that drove him to seek a career here.
“I grew up in Monticello and my wife grew up in Plymouth, so we are close to family and are right at home,” he said. “I am proud that my kids will have the opportunity to be Knights.”
David Holler
Holler worked as a school counselor in the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose school district before taking the new dean/activities director position at Middle School East. He also coached basketball, football and baseball at the middle school level and coordinated student activity programs such as WEB and chess club.
“Working in education is the most rewarding and excited field to serve in,” Holler said. “I’m not sure why everyone doesn’t become an educator. You get to make a difference in the lives of young people and work with a creative and dynamic staff of teachers.”
This is Holler’s first role as an administrator, and he’s also currently working on a doctorate degree in educational leadership at St. Cloud State University.
“I have gotten to know many families in the STMA school district who spoke about the quality of education their children received,” he said. “I believe STMA schools are moving in an extremely positive direction and I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to contribute.”