NEW ULM — Beginning July 1, 2021, Stef Dietz will be the new Activities Director at New Ulm High School.

She wil replace Troy Guentzel, who will be an Assistant Principal and Director of Career and Technical Education at New Ulm High School also on July 1.

Guentzel had served as both Activities Director and Assistant Principal at New Ulm High School for the past five years.

Dietz’s contract was approved last Thursday by the District 88 school board.

“For the past five years, Mr. Guentzel has been the Assistant High School Principal and Activities Director,” Jeff Bertrang, Superintendent of District88 said. “So now he is transitioning to Assistant High School Principal and CTE Administrator. He will oversee the new CTE Center that we will be starting next fall here.”

Bertrang said that there were over 50 applicants for the Activities Director’s job.

“Not all of the applicants met the criteria for the position. And of those 50 applicants, we interviewed four.”

After the interviews, Dietz was selected for the position.

“She has a good coaching background and she had Park and Rec experience with programs for the youth,” Bertrang said. “She has been doing our Kid’s Connection Co-Ordinator for the last seven years. We are excited to have her.”

Bertrang said that Dietz’s coaching experience at different schools and her work with with city employees along with her duties was a big positive.

“And being the coordinator of the Kid’s Connection she has to program different events, work with staff and hire staff along with overseeing budgets. Being an Activities Director you have to understand the multiple components and the complexities with the different programs,” Bertrang said.

Dietz, who is a 1993 graduate of New Ulm Cathedral and later Minnesota State-Mankato with a degree in Education, said that she is ready to start her new position.

“I am excited about this next step that I am taking and to be able to work with all of our coaches, advisors and fine arts,” she said. “I am looking forward to work in that capacity and serve the students of New Ulm High School.”

Dietz said that being an Activities Director had always been in the back of her mind.

“I have been a coach for 23 years and a head coach for a number of years and it has always been in the back of my mind to take that next step,” she said. “I have always wanted to be more involved with more students, coaches and the fine arts. I’ve wanted to be involved in more overall programs.”

Dietz said that as a new AD, she wants to meet with all of the coaches and advisors.

“I want to get to know them and see what is working in their programs and what is not. I want to get a feel for where they are at, make a plan and go from there.”

“I am excited to get up there and get my feet wet,” Dietz said.