Virginia High School League Serves 311 Schools

By Emily Cerling

In the fall of 1913, a group of Virginia schools wanted their high school students to become eloquent speakers. At that time, a debate league was formed among these schools to carry out a state championship contest at the University of Virginia (UVA). By 1914, more than 100 schools were eager to join the Virginia High School Literary League.

As a result of the popularity among Virginia high schools, baseball, basketball and track and field were added to the agenda, and the association was renamed the Virginia High School Literary and Athletic League. After only one year, 250 schools were participating in activities, later adjusting the name to what it is today, the Virginia High School League (VHSL). The VHSL has remained in Charlottesville since the UVA's Washington and Jefferson Literary Societies sponsored its first speech competition.

In the 2007-08 school year, the league's membership has grown to 311, all of which are public schools. Most independent schools belong to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA). While both leagues are able to compete against one another, all postseason playoffs are conducted separately.

Since 1994, the league has been under the supervision of Executive Director Ken Tilley, who has worked hard in maintaining education, leadership and character in all its athletes.

Administrative Staff

Until this year, the organization was composed of 12 staff members, including seven administrators. Recently two new positions -- Mike McCall, the new information and communications specialist, as well as a part-time bookkeeper, Denise Marshall -- were added to the staff. Typically, one or two college interns also work for the VHSL.

Tilley began his state association career in 1975 as the information and communications specialist with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. He joined the VHSL in 1986 as a publications and information services programs assistant. In 1994, he was named executive director and has remained there ever since. His responsibilities include overall VHSL administration, student services and finances.

The most recent addition, Mike McCall, joined the league in the fall of 2007. He previously worked as a communications manager for a governatenal candidate, and a public relations director with the Washington Redskins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has also been the sports information director at various colleges and is still a school board member. With the VHSL, his responsibilities include media and public relations, special events, information and communication services and VHSL publications.

Before joining the organization in 2000, Tom Zimorski served as a teacher, school principal and coach for 30 years. Currently, he is an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football referee and has also officiated lacrosse at both the collegiate and high school levels. He is now the deputy director at the VHSL and deals with issues regarding rules and regulations, eligibility, football rules interpretations and sportsmanship.

Assistant Director Joyce Sisson began her career at VHSL in 2002 and is the co-director of athletics. Prior to joining the league, she worked closely with the VHSL as its basketball commissioner for five years and the field hockey rules interpreter for 12 years. She has also worked for the United States government. Currently, she oversees rules interpretation, officials programs, the New Athletic Director's Workshop and various state athletic events.

Tom Dolan, another new addition to the VHSL, joined the league at the start of 2007 as an assistant director. Previously, he was an athletic director for 10 years and has a 28-year coaching career in the sports of volleyball, golf, basketball, football, baseball and basketball. He specializes in coaches education, sports medicine and the wrestling weight-control program. He also has the responsibilities of rules interpretations, the officials program and other state sporting events.

Lisa Giles has been the VHSL director of activities since 2005. She previously taught English and coached speech and debate for four years. Before working in education, she was a paralegal and telephone services representative. Her responsibilities for the VHSL include student publications, evaluations and workshops, academic activities and state events for forensics debate, drama and other academic activities.

With a banking background of 25 years, Chief Financial Officer Jim Garman has been with the VHSL since 1999. He was previously a bank vice president for nine years.

Hannah Catherine Munro began her duties with the VHSL in 1996 as the director of development. She has worked with the Atlanta Hawks in both marketing and community affairs. She currently works in corporate sponsorship, marketing and special promotions and fund-raising for the VHSL Foundation.

Governance

The VHSL is run by a 30-member executive committee, with 28 voting members plus two non-voting members -- the executive director and the past chairman. The 28 voting members include 12 principals, one from each VHSL region; eight superintendents, one from each Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) region; and two members of the Virginia General Assembly. Also, one representative from the Virginia Department of Public Instruction, Virginia School Boards Association and the Virginia Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Board of Managers are present. The committee meets in regular session four times a year.

Mission

The mission of the VHSL promotes education, leadership, sportsmanship, character and citizenship for students by establishing and maintaining high standards for school activities and competitions.

"It is the essence of what we do," Tilley said. "We try to make sure to incorporate all the elements in our goals and strategic planning."

A wide range of programs are implemented to ensure each prong of the mission is fulfilled. Tilley says the VHSL is very committed to being proactive and recognizing the accomplishments of high school students.

"The schools are very engaged in helping us implement the mission; they ensure that the principles of the mission are maintained and the programs are education-based," Tilley said.

For example, scholarship and recognition programs have been established to honor successful students. VHSL Achievement Awards Scholarships are granted to outstanding male and female athletic and academic activities participants. In addition, the Wachovia Citizenship Awards are given to girls and boys who go beyond what is expected to assist others.

Championship Competition

Each year, the VHSL hosts a variety of state championships for both girls and boys. The league sponsors 70 team championships in 27 sports, with a separate individual competition in girls golf. The VHSL also conducts 15 team championships in eight academic activities, with separate competition for individual students in journalistic writing, photography and design.

In the past decade, the VHSL has grown tremendously with regard to state championships. Since 1997, the VHSL has added more than 25 new state competitions or events, such as lacrosse, team debate, cheerleading and scholastic bowl.

Issues

An issue at the forefront of the VHSL's agenda is the safety of all participants, ranging from equipment and playing rules, steroids, supplements and healthy lifestyles (weight control and eating disorders) and infectious diseases. The health education program in Virginia has been in existence more than 25 years and the entire community is behind the league to support its efforts.

"The grassroots level recognizes the importance of providing information so that the health of students is promoted," Tilley said. "There's been great support for education, being proactive and creative in ways to advance the well-being of the students."

Virginia's steroid education program is mandatory for schools and a state law sets a penalty of loss of eligibility for steroid use. The state was selected as only one of four states to participate in the Sports Illustrated Atlas/Athena Program that dealt with steroid use and healthy lifestyles.

Funding the growing programs as costs continue to rise is also an issue the VHSL addresses. Despite the economic conditions and rising gas prices, Tilley says most schools are adamant about avoiding pay-to-play systems.

"Only one school has ever instituted pay to play and it even removed it. Schools have recognized the way to provide programs," he said.

Also, the VSHL stresses the balance between the academic mission of schools and the need to provide learning opportunities outside the classroom.

"The relations we have with schools through meetings conferences and the communications we have with those organizations help us recognize the importance of promoting academics," Tilley said. The league also implements a "Take Five, Pass Five" rule, where students have to take five courses and pass them in order to participate.

Emily Cerling is a fall semester intern in the NFHS Publications/Communications Department. She is a senior at Butler (Indiana) University, majoring in integrated communications.