The Many Faces of CHSAA Leadership – Andrya Hernandez-Robles
This week we continue our series of articles highlighting the many faces of leadership throughout the CHSAA membership. Our hope is that by taking a small glimpse into the window of their leadership background, you will gain a greater understand of why they are such strong advocates for the vision and core values of the Colorado High School Activities Association.
It is my privilege to introduce our readers to Andrya Hernandez-Robles, the Activities Coordinator and Student Leadership teacher at Westminster High School. Andrya, who received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her master’s degree from Colorado State University, is in her seventh year in education and her second year as the Activities Coordinator. It’s also important to note that Andrya is a current member of the CHSAA Student Leadership Advisory Committee.
What has your journey in education consisted of? Did you start out in the classroom? What administrative positions led you to where you are? Did you come into education specifically for this role?
I want to be an Activities Director and have known that since high school, after closely working with my Activities Director. I started as an English teacher and am currently still teaching. During my internship, I naturally gravitated towards activity roles and since then have become the Activities Coordinator working closely with our Athletic/Activities Director.
Talk about any sport or activity that you participated in during your college years.
My freshmen year of college, I joined a sorority – Sigma Delta Tau (SDT). SDT helped make a very large university feel smaller as it helped me make connections. Through SDT, I got involved with the Panhellenic Association as whole by becoming a Recruitment Counselor and with Dance Marathon. All three of these organizations helped me grow as a woman and as a leader. I left college more independent and confident because of what these organizations taught me.
What do you love most about your current position?
Easily – making moments & memories for our students. Planning events is always a stressful experience – an experience I love but nonetheless stressful. However, at each event I take a moment to just stop and watch the students. That moment makes everything worth it. Seeing the smiles and the joy on their faces is everything to me.
What are some of the challenges you face in your current position?
This might be a really personal one, but as a teacher and activities coordinator the biggest challenge I have is managing time. I need to make sure I’m there for my students and available to complete all my duties as an Activities Coordinator.
What do you love most about your school, district, organization, and/or community?
One thing I really love about working at Westy is that the students are eager to participate in more. They want to feel the school spirit and crave that positivity. It’s such an honor to create these memories for students who are so grateful for them.
Share with us one mistake you may have made early in your career and what you learned from it.
Communication is a strength of mine and something I strongly value. Somehow, though, it’s what I fell short on. I assumed people knew what I needed from them without communicating it. I expected things from people without ever asking them. After some hard reflection, I realized that I wasn’t communicating the way I valued and needed others to communicate with me.
What is one bit of advice you would share with young women entering a male-dominated profession like yours?
I don’t know that it’s advice per say, but something I wish someone said to me at the beginning: it’s going to be hard and lonely; you’re going to be watched and judged like others around you aren’t. Focus on the good you are doing for students. Don’t let the negativity of others bring down all the great work you are doing.
On behalf of the CHSAA membership, I would like to thank Andrya for her work, both in the classroom and as an administrator. Your commitment to Colorado high school activities does not go unnoticed. The voice that you lend to making every student’s high school experience meaningful is very much appreciated.
