Bemidji High School AD Kristen McRae set to retire in December
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Sep. 22—On Aug. 24, the Star Tribune published a report stating 75 high school activities directors either resigned or retired in the last calendar year. When Kristen McRae read the story, she knew she was going to add to the gaudy statistic.
"Soon, it's going to be 76."
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McRae told the Pioneer on Tuesday morning that she is retiring from her position this winter. Her final day on the job is Dec. 18 after five years as the Bemidji High School activities director.
"Woody (Leindecker) and I have talked about how when you're a coach and you're in it, you get to a point when you know it's your time," McRae said. "I feel like it was the same thing for me. Was it
a hectic year?
Yes, but every year is hectic in an activities office. Everything is constantly in motion for seven days a week.
"There's been a lot of thought to this whole thing. I love what I do, whether it's in the classroom, in the activities office or on the pool deck. I love where I am, I love the kids, I love my colleagues and coaches and I love watching kids do what they love to do. But it's time."
McRae has been with the school since 1992, working as an educator and coaching both the boys and girls swimming and diving programs for 18 combined seasons.
On Dec. 1, 2022, she began her five-year stint as the BHS AD,
taking over for Troy Hendricks, who had
been in the position since 2010.
"I go back to the fall of 1992 when I started and I'm seeing all of the faculty around who were veterans of the job, people who have been there," McRae said. "At some point, they graduate, too. They go on to the next stage of their lives. Meanwhile, I'm a perpetual senior in high school. It's time for me to officially graduate."
For McRae, it comes down to finding more time in her personal life. She became a grandmother last spring.
"This is my 35th year here in Bemidji," McRae said. "I can't say I'm old — my body says I am, even though my mind says I'm not. But my daughter had a baby at the end of March. When she asks, 'Hey, Mom, when can you come out and visit us?' Then I look at my schedule, and it's really hard to make that work. You can't get time back, and I don't want to look back with regrets. You don't get do-overs with stuff like that."
McRae discussed retirement plans with her husband, John McRae, in the late 2010s and early 2020s. John
died in June 2022 at the age of 65.
"In all honesty, when I was in the classroom teaching while John was alive, I would've been retired by now," McRae said. "I would've been done when I was 58. My husband was a few years older than me, and he told me he didn't want to retire and sit around all by himself while I went to work every day. In the back of my mind, it was planted in there that I'd be retired at 58. But the catalyst was looking at my phone and seeing pictures of my grandchild. It's really hard to get to know your grandma in a funky little box you put in your pocket."
McRae oversaw Bemidji High School activities and athletics to several triumphs, including section championships in boys tennis, girls tennis, cross country, girls hockey and boys wrestling, along with numerous section and state individual titles. During her time as AD, BHS added girls wrestling and boys volleyball programs.
However, the more opportunities the school provided, the thinner she was stretched.
"It's a totally different job than it was 20 years ago, even 15 years ago," McRae said. "More and more gets added to your plate. You look at the number of activities we offer and clubs we oversee; it's huge. If you look at the MSHSL numbers, we're the 50th largest school in the state, and that's just the high school. Our middle school is larger than a lot of schools in the state. There's just a lot with scheduling, bussing and all of the working parts to it. It's a massive undertaking."
McRae, along with Hendricks, was crucial in getting Bemidji High School into the Central Lakes Conference. It was an effort that started over a decade ago when Hendricks led the activities office.
"Troy was always a huge asset," McRae said. "As a colleague, as an activities director and as a former activities director, he was always willing to help out, answer questions or provide guidance when he could. Having him was super comforting for me, and I relied heavily on him. I really had no idea what it took to get this job done. Hopefully, whoever comes in feels comfortable using the resources available to them. Once you're a Lumberjack, you're always a Lumberjack."
McRae graduated from Wayzata High School and swam collegiately at the University of Nebraska. She was an All-American in 1988. Four years later, she moved to Bemidji.
McRae taught English and Spanish for over two decades before becoming the first female activities director in school history.
"There's never an opportune time to retire," McRae said. "Troy Hendricks and I talked about this because he went out the same time I'm going out. Whoever comes in next will be able to see what it's like in the winter when you have hockey, basketball, gymnastics, Nordic, wrestling and all of the sports going on. They'll be able to train in and get the timing down.
"I'll be around — I'm not going anywhere. Hopefully, I'll be able to be a good resource and a mentor for whoever is next."
McRae said she's already been asked about the responsibilities of the job by aspiring candidates.
"I know there's a lot of interest out there. I've had people reach out to me asking to sit down because they want to know what this job entails," McRae said. "They want to know how having the middle school on your plate changes things. They will have good candidates; I know they will."