By: Elizabeth Boyd
Aaron Tate is a former athletic director and current school board member. He emphasizes how leadership in schools isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to balancing athletics, academics, and funding. Tate has experienced this firsthand and uses his background in sports to guide the way he makes decisions today.
Before joining the school board, he spent years involved in athletics. He played sports throughout high school, and that passion continuously grew and he eventually became an athletic director. That experience helped shape his leadership style. He explained that being in a leadership position means making tough choices, even when they aren’t popular.
“Make hard decisions for what you think is best, and really learn to control your emotions.”
Tate stated, emphasizing the importance of staying level-headed during difficult situations.
Now, those lessons carry over into his role on the school board, where he often has to make the hard decisions. You learn to support and collaborate with the fellow board members, put personal problems to the side and make quick decisions based on what you think is best for the district and for the students most importantly.
Along with leadership, Tate strongly believes in the value of athletics within education.
“I believe they are second to none to education,” he said, showing how important sports and extracurriculars such as band and many more can be for students beyond the classroom.
However, he also pointed out some of the biggest challenges schools are currently facing, including financial struggles and less opportunities in the rural areas for parents which makes it more challenging. Because of this, there are a lot less kids in the district, which can impact students’ overall experiences.
Tate’s daughter, Mattie Root, is a senior at FHHS and is proud of him.
“Aaron is a very kind and funny guy. He is very involved with the school board and answering all the questions he’s able to when people contact him about it. He’s a great community member. If someone on our street needs something he will usually drop everything he’s doing to go help them out.”
The community involvement influenced decisions within the school district, such as having conversations in a good environment and going to football games, basketball games, different events so people see that you are active in the community and it’s a less hostile environment.
In addition, Tate highlighted the importance of being involved in the community. He explained that leaders need to be present and willing to have conversations with students and families.
By staying involved, leaders can better understand what students need and create an environment where they feel comfortable and supported.
When asked what advice he would give to students, Tate emphasized the importance of getting involved in as much as possible. He mentioned activities like extracurriculars, 4-H, FFA and church, encouraging students to step outside their comfort zones.
He also explained that leadership isn’t just about being in charge—it’s about listening.
“Leadership is being able to sit back and listen just as much as leading,” he said.
Overall, his message shows that strong leadership, involvement, and communication all play a key role in creating a better experience for students.
