Stan Laing
Stan Laing is the Athletic Director (Assistant Superintendent of Athletics) at Northside ISD, the fourth-largest school district in the state of Texas. Stan serves 650 coaches as well as over 15,000 student-athletes that participate in athletics in the Northside district. He leads their annual Servant Leadership Summit for athletes as well as coaches.
In my humble opinion, the most effective leaders that I have seen and aspire to be are servant leaders. The mindset of selflessly serving others in a grateful and humble manner. Those that do this well exhibit three key traits: Their actions are a reflection of their faith. Their attitude is a reflection of their hope. How they treat others is a reflection of their love.
He has completed 38 years of serving in public education:
• 17 years as a teacher and coach.
• 8 years as a high school campus principal
• 13 years as Executive Director of Athletics, Northside ISD, San Antonio, TX.
• As a campus principal, his campus received multiple years as Newsweek Magazine's list of America's Top Performing High Schools.
• As athletic director, Grant Teaff Coaching Beyond the Game Award from THSCA
• As athletic director, multiple Athletic Administrator of the Year awards from THSADA
Stan considers his greatest accomplishment as having continued relationships with former players, with a handful of them having entered into the coaching profession.
Before San Antonio
I grew up in a fatherless home, in inner-city Las Vegas, Nevada. My mom, because of lack of education and health reasons, we lived in government housing. We lived in the projects… a pretty hopeless situation at times. I didn’t have hope at home, but I found hope in athletics.
After a brief move to San Angelo, Texas, Laing’s mother decided to return to Las Vegas.
Knowing what difficulties lay ahead, Stan’s high school coach offered to let him move in with him and his wife for Stan’s final two years of high school. This offered young Laing a stable family environment, where his hope grew. It was there that a seed was planted in him; a desire to pay it forward.
