Sports Is Education - Bios

Jim Bloch
Athletic Director, New Trier High School

Jim Bloch came to New Trier in 1999 after serving as the athletic director at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois since 1981. During his career, he has served the Illinois Athletic Directors' Association as the state conference raffle chairman, registration chairman and conference chairman. From 1991-92, Jim served as the President of the Illinois Athletic Directors' Association (IADA). He has received numerous awards including the 1991 IADA Outstanding Athletic Director award, the 1993 NIAAA Illinois State Award of Merit, and the 1999 Class AA Athletic Director of the Year award.

Since 1992, Jim has been the coordinator of the Central Suburban League Annual Student-Athlete Leadership Conference. In 1996, he helped develop the IADA New Athletic Director Mentor Program. Jim was selected as one of two Illinois representatives to the 1998 National Athletic Directors' Leadership Program and currently serves as an instructor for two of the National Federation Leadership Training Courses (LTC). He is also a certified ASEP Instructor.

He has been a featured speaker at many coaches' seminars and leadership workshops, and he is often invited to speak to groups of parents and athletes at high schools, park districts, and parent symposiums. He was the keynote speaker at the 1999 IADA state conference where he spoke to athletic directors and coaches about their role in "Making A Positive Difference." He has also been a speaker for the Illinois High School Association at each of their annual statewide "Sportsmanship Summits." He has been a featured speaker at each of the past four Illinois Athletic Director Conferences, speaking on "Characteristics of Effective Leadership" and "Citizenship Through Sports." The Illinois Athletic Directors' Association calls upon him to frequently speak and teach courses approved for accreditation in the National Federation Leadership Training Curriculum.

Jim teaches two college courses. One at DePaul University entitled, 'Coaching and Life Skills,' and the other, 'Sports and Society' is taught at Northeastern Illinois University. Jim currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Special Olympics and recently completed a tour of duty as President of the Central Suburban League Conference. He received his bachelor degree from Northern Illinois University in Special Education and earned his master's degree in School Administration from Roosevelt University