🏅 Integrated K-12 Athletics Operations Strategy
Building a Cohesive School Athletics System That Works
🔹 Overview
Organization: KIPP Atlanta Schools
Timeline: 2021–2024
Role: Associate Director of Athletics (Regional)
Focus Areas: Systems Design • Student Engagement • K–12 Operations • Program Development
Tools Used: Google Workspace • Excel • Canva • TeamSnap • District Policy Guides
🔹 The Challenge
Historically, KIPP’s athletics programs operated in silos, resulting in fragmented systems, unclear ownership, and unequal access to resources across the various KIPP Atlanta School campuses. This affected the viability of programs at the high school level due to a lack of preparedness or access for campuses without the system of athletics embedded in the school culture.
There was no shared infrastructure to support a full student-athlete journey. Families, staff, and scholars often viewed athletics as disconnected from academics, with limited alignment on eligibility, budget planning, or long-term athlete development.
To increase student participation, elevate program quality, and ensure equitable access, we needed to build a unified K–12 athletics system.
🔹 My Role and Contributions
As the Regional Associate Director of Athletics, I co-led the strategic development and implementation of a fully integrated athletics operations model connecting across schools, streamlining communications, and developing a pipeline of student-athletes from elementary through high school.
Key Responsibilities:
Department Design:
Partnered with the Regional Athletic Director and Business Operations Manager to create the first centralized KIPP Atlanta Athletics Department.
Personnel Structure:
Built and managed a tiered leadership network:
6 Middle School Athletic Directors
5 Elementary School Athletic Liaisons
1 Full-time High School Athletic Director
3-person Regional Team
Systemization & Policy Alignment:
Created SOPs, eligibility protocols, scheduling templates, and vendor tracking systems to ensure operational consistency across campuses.
Budget & Resource Management:
Collaborated on shared budgets, funding proposals, and equitable purchasing guidelines—ensuring all campuses had access to equipment, transportation, and safe playing conditions.
Community & Culture Integration:
Worked with schools and families to redefine athletics as an extension of the academic and leadership experience, increasing scholar interest and family engagement.
🔹 The Impact
✅ 100% of KIPP Metro Atlanta campuses now participate in the regional athletics system
✅ 12 schools supported through centralized leadership and shared playbooks
✅ 25+ school-based staff aligned to clear roles, responsibilities, and systems
✅ Increased scholar participation and program retention across all grade levels
✅ New pathways for scholar-athletes to compete, lead, and connect sports with academic success
We didn’t just build a sports program. We built a student engagement system rooted in access, leadership, and community.
🔹 What I Learned
This project taught me how to balance structure with flexibility. Every school had its own culture, yet we created a shared vision that respected those differences while driving excellence.
I learned how to:
Build cross-campus infrastructure that scales
Lead diverse teams without hierarchy getting in the way of impact
Align athletics with whole-child development and academic priorities
If I were to do it again, I’d integrate data dashboards earlier—tracking scholar-athlete GPA, attendance, and engagement over time to make stronger data-driven decisions.
🔹 Want to Replicate This?
If you're looking to build or scale an athletics program that supports scholar development, staff sustainability, and community alignment, I’d love to help.
📩 workwithalexas@gmail.com