Not just an athletic director

New Stevens activities director focused on success of all programs

By Jim Holland, Journal staff | Friday, August 29, 2008

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RAPID CITY— Tyler Rachetto wants to set the record straight on what the letters “A.D.” stand for in his job description.

“A lot of people have the mistaken impression that A.D. stands for athletic director,” he said. “I’m the activities director, and that includes everything, fine arts and music as well as athletics.”

Actually Rachetto’s full title at Rapid City Stevens High School is assistant principal in charge of activities, but calling him the activities director works just fine, he said.

Rachetto is starting his second year as an assistant principal at Stevens. He added the emphasis on school activities this summer following the retirement of former school activities director Paul Sterling at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “My goal is to continue the success that all of the programs have had at Stevens High School.”

Before coming to Stevens, Rachetto was an assistant principal at North Middle School in Rapid City and also at his high school alma mater, Lead-Deadwood, where he was also activities director.

Before moving to Lead-Deadwood, Rachetto taught social studies, government and American history and coached varsity golf at Brown High School in Sturgis.

Rachetto earned a degree in social science from Grand Canyon University. He eamed his secondary education teaching certificate at Arizona State University and later a Master’s in education administration from South Dakota State University in 2005.

Rachetto said involvement and success in activities parallels success in the classroom.

“My overall goal to get more students involved in activities, whether it’s fine arts or athletics,” he said.

“Students who are involved in activities perform better in the classroom, their attendance is better, they learn teamwork, how to win, how to lose, and they learn self-discipline and self-confidence.”

Rachetto’s wife, Jessica, is a physician’s assistant in Rapid City. His father, Jerry, is an attorney and his mother, Joan, has coached the Lead-Deadwood High School girls golf team to five consecutive state Class A state titles.

Rachetto won the SDGA Junior state title and was named South Dakota player of the year in 1991. In 2002 he qualified for the U.S. Mid Amateur tournament in Greenwich, Conn.

He was golf course superintendent at Boulder Canyon Country Club in Sturgis. Four years ago, he teamed with Chris Collins to win the state Two-Man Best Ball tournament, and this summer he placed third in the Men’s State Amateur tournament in Rapid City.

Rachetto said the push for excellence in the classroom also translates to success in activities.

“Our music and fine arts programs are phenomenal and I think the reason is that the students and the staff enjoy the process of improvement,” he said. “Even though our girls track team has won 13 straight state championships, the girls are always looking to continue that process of getting better and better.”