Educational Athletics Committee

We Believe

The Case for High School Activities

Committee and Important Information

Interscholastic athletic competition is an extension of the classroom and an educational activity that provides outstanding opportunities to teach life lessons.  Through participation in such programs, young people learn values and skills that help prepare them for the future.  Leadership, goal setting, teamwork, decision making, perseverance, integrity, sacrifice, healthy competition and overcoming adversity are inherent in the interscholastic athletic framework and also support the academic mission of schools.  Student-athletes earn the privilege to participate by succeeding academically, and the resulting positive outcomes continue far beyond graduation.  These programs exist to prepare young men and women for the next level of life, not the next level of athletics.  Wins are achieved through athletics by developing successful athletes and teams, but more importantly, wins are achieved through the educational experience by developing successful and responsible students, leaders and community members. 

The goals of the Educational Athletics Committee are to support educational professionals and prepare coaches to fulfill the role of “teacher-coach,” as curriculum leaders who teach the values and skills inherent in interscholastic athletics. With the guidance and support of the Educational Athletics Committee, curriculum strands referred to as “pillars,” will be identified, developed and integrated into all interscholastic athletic programs.  The Educational Athletics Committee, consisting of Association constituents, will serve in an advisory capacity to achieve these goals.  Pursuant to the committee’s mission, the following “pillars” of educational athletics have been established.

Committee Members

Liaison – Peter Smith, MIAA

Derrick Beasley, Athletic Director, Cathedral High School

Peter Boucher, Athletic Director, Milford High School

Kate Breen, Retired Teacher/Coach

Andrew Crisafulli, Athletic Director, Joseph Case High School

Paul Daigle, Retired Principal

Avery Esdaile, Athletic Director Boston Public Schools

Kelly Wolff, Athletic Director, Swampscott High School

Mitch Finnegan, Director of HPE, Weston High School

Phil Fogelman, Education Director, Anti-Defamation League

Ryan Ford, Scholastic Division, Jostens-Scholastic Solutions

Scott Hutchinson, Athletic Director, Hanover High School

Deirdre King, Guidance Counselor, Hopkinton High School

David Mahery, Pro Stairs

Naomi Martin, Athletic Director, Lexington High School

Brian McNally, Wellness Coordinator, Andover High School

Maria Melchionda, Executive Director, MAHPERD

Michael O’Connor, Athletic Director, Ursuline Academy

Peter Schafer, Superintendent, Abington High School

Sylvia Stepien, Retired Teacher, Millbury

Michael Vaughan, Guidance Counselor, Leicester High School

Meeting Dates

Meeting information for the 2023-2024 school year will be posted soon.

Click here to view the Pillars of Educational Athletics Curriculum – Link is Under Construction

  • Coaches’ Education – To provide resources for teacher-coaches who serve as curriculum instructors of educational athletics
  • Wellness – To empower students to make healthy life choices
  • Sportsmanship – To teach respect for self, team, opponents, officials, rules and the game itself
  • Leadership – To promote the power of positive influence that student-athletes and teacher-coaches share as role models
  • Community Service – To recognize the privilege of athletic participation and the responsibility of giving back to the community