Whitewater schools’ new leader draws on experience as student-athlete
By Daniel Schoettler
Correspondent
New Whitewater Unified School District administrator Mark Elworthy is excited to once again work in a university town in his career. The former track and field athlete spent his college athletic days at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and also has spent time in the Eau Claire area as well as being a former coach.
Elworthy is a long-time Wisconsin resident. Prior to becoming the Whitewater administrator, he was the district administrator in the Wisconsin Heights School District.
“I grew up and worked in a university town,” Elworthy said. “In many respects, it is like coming home.”
Elworthy is a former student-athlete himself. He ran for the cross country and track and field teams at UW-LaCrosse and was part of a few national championship teams at the school.
He said his experience as a student-athlete has been an advantage for him in his prior administration roles.
“I’ve transferred that into the planning process,” Elworthy said. “I work backwards – what is the goal and create a plan to reach that goal.”
Elworthy said he has benefited from many opportunities. He previously coached at UW-Eau Claire in addition to his previous administration positions.
“It is getting to know individuals or groups,” Elworthy said. “In knowing that there is different ideas and different topics, people react differently and people are also motivated differently.”
Elworthy has learned a lot from the athletes he has coached in the past. He said they made him better as well.
“I enjoy providing opportunities for people to succeed,” Elworthy said. “I got engaged in education because of mentors and teachers that did a lot for me.”
He said in addition to being motivated he found he really enjoyed education. He said he has reached this point in educational leadership because of the opportunities he’s had to work with an array of people.
“What I like the most about my position as a district administrator, I get to work with a variety of people from community agencies, higher learning groups, and the student and parents,” he said.