Athlos Academy of St. Cloud Hires Executive Director
ST. CLOUD — Minnesota native and longtime educator Randall Vetsch will be the new executive director of the St. Cloud charter school Athlos Academy, the school announced in a news release Tuesday.
Vetsch fills the position left vacant when former Executive Director Dan McKeon resigned in December. Vetsch has previously served as executive director at Cedar Riverside Community School in Minneapolis.
His official start date will be May 29, according to Athlos Academy spokeswoman Camille Wells.
“I am excited and honored to be chosen as the next leader of Athlos Academy of St. Cloud,” Vetsch stated in the news release. “St. Cloud is home for me, and I want to be a part of providing a viable education option for our youth.”
Vetsch lives in Clearwater with his wife, Susan, and six children. He was born and raised in St. Michael and earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education and his master’s degree in educational administration and leadership from St. Cloud State University.
Jacqueline Hoyhta, Athlos Academy school board chair, said the school is proud to welcome Vetsch to the school.
“As a Minnesota native with strong ties to the St. Cloud community, (Vetsch) has a great understanding of our school’s unique needs,” Hoyhtya said. “His wealth of experience will be of great benefit to our school, staff, students and families.”
McKeon was named executive director in June and left in December. Wells said at the time McKeon left because his two young sons lived in Bemidji and “the challenge of a personal life in Bemidji and a professional life in St. Cloud proved unsustainable.”
Athlos Academy of St. Cloud is a tuition-free charter school on the south side of St. Cloud authorized by Volunteers of America. It opened in fall 2016 and has approximately 515 students in kindergarten through seventh grade. The school plans to add eighth grade for the 2018-19 school year.
Richard Best has been serving as interim school leader. He started full-time as the interim school leader Jan. 29 and will work at the school through June 7.
“We will have a couple weeks of overlap to ensure the transition is seamless and smooth,” Wells said.
The last day of school for Athlos Academy is June 7.
