Many staff members who work behind the scenes may go unnoticed by students at Southern Lehigh. One of those staff members is Southern Lehigh’s Athletic Director Mr. Matt Spengler, who is in his second year as Southern Lehigh’s Athletic Director.
Before he came to Southern Lehigh, he worked as the Assistant Athletic Director for five years at Emmaus High School. After working at Emmaus, he moved to Southern Lehigh in 2023 to become the Athletic Director for the Southern Lehigh School District .
Moving to this district was not an easy decision for Mr. Spengler and his family. They had to consider if Southern Lehigh was somewhere they wanted to send their kids.
“Honestly the number one reason that I thought to myself, and I went to my wife once the position opened was would we send our kids here? And that’s a resounding yes,” said Mr. Spengler.“I would only want to work in a school district where I would be comfortable sending my kids and family.”
He realized that joining Southern Lehigh would allow him to give back to a very supportive community. Working alongside high school principal Mr. Joshua Miller made this transition easy for him as they share the same point of view on sports.
“I can’t imagine a school where I don’t have opportunities for kids to play sports; I think sports are so critical in terms of life skills where there’s communication, teamwork, problem solving, resilience,” said Mr. Miller. “High school sports, middle school sports, as part of the school system is one of the best things we can do, for all kids.”
Mr. Spengler is always looking to treat everyone the right way and with respect. This has been well-received not only by staff but also by students.
Coming into school everyday Mr. Spengler always makes sure to put his best foot forward. He wants to treat people the right way and promotes a strong work ethic in those around him.
“You need to have a strong work ethic in anything you do, try the best you can in anything,” said Mr. Spengler. “Whether it’s your job or your home life, be the best dad you can be, be the best professional you can be. And then also treat people well.”
Regarding Southern Lehigh’s future in sports, Mr. Spengler hopes to continue his efforts, as he sees great potential due to support in youth and junior high organizations.
“I think it’s crucial; you gain a lot of self confidence from sports. Being a part of a team…helps you in leadership,” he said.