OFA's Bjork Named Section 10 AD Of Year
By DAVE SHEA
Sports Editor
Running has helped open doors to opportunity for 1985 OFA graduate Tony Bjork throughout his life.
While becoming one of the best Blue Devil distance performers ever, Bjork caught the eye of the St. Lawrence University Track-Field coaches. He went on to earn All-American honors at SLU where he graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports and Leisure Studies (Physical Education).
After serving in the United States Army for three years. where he served overseas in Greece, Bjork returned home to plot his professional career.
While running one afternoon he was stopped by his former OFA Track-Field Coach Steve Barlow and told about an opening for an In-House School Suspension teacher. He took the job for the 1992-93 school year where he worked closely with OFA Athletic Director Ron Johnson and realized his career aspirations.
In August 1993, and he and his wife Lisa, moved to Arizona so he pursue a career in the fields of Physical Education, Athletic Administration, Coaching and School Administration as an Assistant Principal. In Arizona, he earned an Arizona Department of Education Certificate in Physical Education and a Masters Degree in Education in Educational Leadership/Administration (with Distinction) from Northern Arizona University. "I coached just about every sport and held a lot of great positions in Arizona," recalls Bjork who served the youth of the Garden Lakes Elementary School and Westview High School in Avondale, AZ. and at Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek, AZ.
But his heart never left the North Country.
In 2003, he returned to be close to family and friends as Athletic Director, Assistant Principal and Girls Basketball Coach at Salmon River Central and in 2005 returned to his alma mater joining the Physical Education Department at OFA. Beginning in the 2006-07 school year he assumed the Duties of Physical Edication Director, Director of Facilities and Assistant with Discipline for the 7-8 Grade Office and also coached the Girls Track-Field Team for one year.
On Thursday, at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs, Bjork will be honored as the Section 10 Athletic Director of the Year by the New York State Athletic Administrators Association.
This prestigious award is bestowed annually upon "an athletic administrator who has shown evidence of devotion and idealism to athletes through the NYSAAA and has demonstrated their influence and power in the promotion of athletics in a positive manner". Honorees are distinguished amongst a select group of their peers and recognized based upon an established set of criteria including; having his major responsibility the administration of the Interscholastic Athletic Program for a specific school system, being recognized in the community as an educated leader who maintains athletics as an integral part of the total educational program, and administering an exemplary athletic program making full use of school and community resources while involving as many students as possible.
Bjork currently serves on several committees representing both Section 10 and New York State.
For the Section 10 Sports Committees, he is the representative for Football, Boys and Girls Cross-Country, Boys and Girls Indoor Track-Field, and Girls Lacrosse. For the Section 10 Central Committee, he is the Men's Physical Education Representative, B/C League President and the NACAAA President/Secretary. He is also the Vice President of the Section 10 Executive Committee. In addition, he serves on the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championship Philosophy Committee.
"I am just happy to be working in my hometown and at a great school like OFA with so many great people. And giving back to the kids and the community," said Bjork.
"The guys that I followed like Jim Pinkerton and Ron Johnson were my mentors. RJ (Ron Johnson) really helped me a lot and I patterned myself after him. I just want to keep the traditions going."
