IHSAA Announces New Director of Officials

 Boone, IA -- The Iowa High School Athletic Association has hired J. Lewis (Lewie) Curtis of Underwood as the new Director of Officials beginning March 1, 2016. Curtis replaces Roger Barr, who joined the IHSAA in 2003 and is retiring at the end of December.
 Curtis is currently the Activities Director at Underwood Community Schools in western Iowa, a position he has held since 2000 along with serving as the middle school principal. He holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell College (Mount Vernon) in Special Studies, Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from the University of Northern Iowa. 
 Curtis began his career in education in 1989 as a fourth grade elementary teacher. “The IHSAA is committed to education-based activities,” said Alan Beste, IHSAA Executive Director. “Lewie brings a wealth of experience at all levels of high school athletics, and he will work to forge positive relationships with officials, coaches and administrators across the state.”
 Beste noted that officials’ recruitment, training and retention will be key duties for Curtis as he joins the IHSAA staff.
 Prior to his administrative career, Curtis was a classroom instructor and a coach in the sports of wrestling, baseball, football and golf. He has been a registered official with the IHSAA in the sports of football and baseball. Under his watch as head coach, Underwood captured the 1999 and 2000 Class 1A State wrestling titles.
 Along with his work in athletics, Curtis has also been involved in technology initiatives within his school district in the past.
 His professional career has included service awards from the Iowa High School Athletic Director’s Association, along with being named as the Middle School Activities Director of the Year in Southwest Iowa in 2012. In 2000, he was selected as the Southwest District Wrestling Coach of the Year. He has also previously served as an Iowa Baseball Coaches Association All Star Series Umpire.
 Curtis and his wife, Julie, have three children, Bryan, Taylor and Olivia.