SE Valley Times

Highland High School's Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, Brandon Larson, has been honored as the AD of the Year for the 6A Fiesta region. The award, determined by a ballot from 6A conference leadership in collaboration with the Arizona Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, involves athletic directors in the region voting for a peer.

"To have your peers recognize you for the work that you've done is an incredible honor," Larson said. He described the role as being like a "huge jigsaw puzzle" due to the broad range of responsibilities, including recruitment of coaches, event organization, and student support.

Shaping the culture of the school's athletic programs is a key part of Larson's role. He regularly meets with the coaching staff to discuss the Highland High culture, aiming for consistent values and practices.

Highland High's approach to athletics focuses on developing well-rounded individuals rather than just winning. The "Elite Hawks, Elite Purpose" framework emphasizes character traits such as enthusiasm, love, integrity, toughness, and everyday consistency.

"I love seeing coaches and kids being successful," Larson stated, noting that his motivation extends beyond awards to seeing growth among students and coaches. The aim is to provide students with life skills that go beyond sports. "We want our students to leave Highland High with quality character," he explained.

Gilbert Public Schools encourages student participation in sports with programs available from Kindergarten through 12th grade. More information is available at GilbertSchools.net/Student-Life/Athletics.