Jessica Upchurch has been named the athletic director at the Sebastian River High School. She now hopes to bring her ideas to share on what she said is already a strong foundation.
Upchurch is a former assistant athletic director in Chicago. When Michael Stutzke retired in May, she stepped up to be his replacement.
The 35-year-old was looking for a school where she could run her own program and eventually become an athletic director. Sebastian River High School seemed like a good fit.
Upchurch received an undergrad degree in kinesiology and exercise science from Elmhurst College before completing a master’s in educational leadership from DePaul.
One of the things that brought her to Sebastian, Florida was how “innovative and cutting-edge” the current athletic program at the high school with sports like rugby and rowing. Upchurch also wants to expand the program by offering traditional sports as well.
Unchurch wants to bring back girls weightlifting and to start an athletic leadership council for students to discuss opportunities on how sports can help them in other parts of life.