TWICE IS NICE FOR LODI CROSS COUNTRY
For the last eight years, Erin Aitken has watched many successful teams on all levels as the Lodi High athletic director.
Now Aitken has taken a higher step in her educational career.
As of Sept. 21, Lodi High Principal Bob Lofsted promoted Aitken, a 1994 Lodi High graduate, to one of the school’s two assistant principal positions. Rich Shipley is the school’s other AP.
Aitken, who has taught health classes, is pulling double duty as an administrator and athletic director — for now. Aitken said Wednesday night that Lofsted plans to hire an interim athletic director for the rest of the 2017-18 school year. Then Lodi High would hire a permanent athletic director before the start of the 2018-19 school year.
“Hopefully we’ll have some good candidates,” Aitken said. “I feel we built that (athletic) program and left it in good shape for anybody who steps in.”
The assistant principal position became vacant four months ago when Chuck Selna, who served in the role Aitken filled, left the Lodi Unified School District to become an assistant principal and athletic director at Lathrop High, part of the Manteca Unified School District. Aitken applied for the vacant spot over the summer.
“There’s an opportunity for me to grow in the educational leadership,” said Aitken, who earned her administrative credentials two years ago. “What a better way to start it off, to have the opportunity at my own school site.”
Before Aitken accepted the administrative position, she had a discussion with her family. “We felt it was the right time,” Aitken said. Now comes filling Aitken’s soon-to-be former role as the school’s athletic director. Aitken said that Lofsted is looking to fill the spot “soon.”
“Obviously, with me starting a new position, it’s pretty difficult to oversee the (athletic) depart-
ment, the day-to-day operations,” Aitken said.
Friday will mark the last day for Lodi High students and faculty, as they will go on their two-week break. Lodi Unified School District started this school year on July 31.
Prior to being the Lodi High athletic director, Aitken was the Lodi High girls basketball coach until the end of the 2008-09 school year, when she stepped down to become the athletic director.