Kennedy High School will soon have a new activities director. Former boys swimming coach Shawn Thomsen will be replacing previous director Aaron Stecker next school year as he moves on to Iowa Bound.

Thomsen has spent the last 15 years working with students and staff at Kennedy in a wide variety of positions, as a facilitator, math teacher and coach.

“I really enjoy the continuity and the community that we have,” Thomsen said. “People here support each other and listen to each other. I’m really looking forward to continuing that.”

Thomsen’s continuation of Stecker’s job will require massive effort. Once activity director, Thomsen will be supervising and managing the funding, transportation and scheduling of all the major school activities and extracurriculars. He intended to approach each situation with a positive attitude and a willingness to create a fun and healthy environment for Kennedy’s student body.

“I’m really looking forward to [being activity director],” Thomsen said. “It’s gonna be a challenge just like with any brand new role. Obviously, most people are comfortable with how everything ran with Mr. Stecker so somebody coming in new raises a little bit of anxiety. But being in the building for the last 15 years, people know me, and I feel like they trust that the process is going to continue.”