After five years leading sports for Orcas Island Schools, Athletic Director Vicki Vandermay will be shifting gears into the Human Resources department as the personnel coordinator come January.

“I hope and pray athletics keeps going forward,” said Vandermay. “We’ve done a lot of great things … We’ve just come a long way in the five years I’ve been here.”

For the past two years, Orcas Island School District, Orcas Island Park and Recreation and the Orcas Island Booster Club have participated in the Positive Coaching Alliance. The national program provides training and workshops for coaches of student teams to foster healthy working relationships between the coaches and athletes.

Vandermay has worked with the school district for more than 10 years as a substitute teacher and will continue to teach while she navigates her new career. She says she is looking forward to being able to volunteer for sports-related positions for the school and continue her athletic involvement.

“Being an athletic director is a pretty high impact job,” said Vandermay. “I’m looking forward to slowing down a bit.”

Vandermay was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington, and received her degree in early childhood education from Clark Community College, which she attended on an athletic scholarship. She was active in high school sports, playing volleyball and basketball and running track.

“I really believe in athletics,” said Vandermay. “I believe it’s really good for children. I was always in sports in school.”

Both of Vandermay’s daughters, Shelbi, 21, and Kilee, who will be 20 in January, were three-sport athletes for Orcas Island Schools.

The vacant position that Vandermay leaves behind was opened for applicants to apply beginning in November. High School Principal Kyle Freeman said that the school began interviewing for the position on Dec. 2.

“We’re hoping to have someone in place here to transition before the end of the month,” he said.