The Many Faces of CHSAA Leadership- Cora Lanter
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.
Cora Lanter serves the Severance High School community as an Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. The Hastings College graduate is in her 17th year in education and her second year as an administrator, her first at Severance.
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?
While attending college I tore my ACL playing softball, which adjusted my summer work plans in construction to working at a YMCA summer camp. One little boy that summer changed my career path and I returned to school and changed my major to education. I was fortunate to student teach at my former junior high school in Cheyenne, WY, and then hopped right into teaching at that same school when my former art teacher retired. I was fortunate to teach art and coach volleyball, track, and softball in Cheyenne for seven years before I moved down to Texas. While in Texas, I worked as an art tutor for incarcerated students at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center (Austin, TX), on the weekends and as a PreK teacher in Pflugerville during the week. My time in Texas was educational, but the heat, the traffic, and the distance were enough for me to return home. After my return north, I was fortunate to find a position as an art teacher, softball, and track coach at Windsor High School. So, I moved to Windsor, and then eventually Severance. I spent eight years with Windsor, served in various roles and found great encouragement from my colleagues and principal to pursue my master’s in administration. I never believed, when I started out in education, that I would become an administrator. When I started taking classes, becoming an athletic director was my five-year plan. I figured I would need to start as a dean, work as an AP, and then pursue an AD role. Several years passed after obtaining my degree and initial administrative license, but my five-year admin plan changed dramatically when I went from the classroom to a summer school administrator, to an AP/AD all in a 3-month period. I served my first year as the AP/AD at Fort Lupton High School. My experience there taught me a lot about who I was, who I wanted to be as an administrator, and I am very grateful for my time with the Blue Devils. Now, in my second year as an AP/AD, I work much closer to home, at Severance High School. This year has been full of new experiences and learning opportunities. With a brand-new administration, we are learning and growing together, and it has been an amazing and mutually supportive working environment. The SHS team, both staff and students, have been outstanding to work with and a big part of why I chose to come home.
Did you participate in activities and/or athletics in college?
While at Hastings, I played volleyball for two years, where I served as an outside hitter. I also played softball all four years, where I played shortstop, catcher, and outfielder. Two sports held many challenges between juggling academics, physical strain, and coaching staff changes. During my freshman softball season, I tore my ACL and that made it very challenging to return to volleyball 4 months later. I did return but discovered that volleyball was something I would have to surrender to keep myself healthy and continue playing softball. I had a second minor surgery after volleyball concluded, hit PT hard and came back for late winter workouts and rolled into the spring softball season ready to go.
What do you love most about your current position?
I love the people. This job is hard, and we all wear a lot of hats, but when you have good people to work with and for, it makes a big difference. I’m happy every day because of the people. It may not be all day every day, but it’s definitely every day.
What do you love most about your school district?
The support and genuine love that I have been shown in this district and this community not only this year, but over the years is indescribable. Weld Re-4 has been an amazing place for me to learn and grow and has been there to support my endeavors without faltering. The people here are passionate and care deeply about every person that plays a role in the successes of the students, staff, school, community, and district.
Who are some of your mentors?
I have a lot of hard-headed people in my life that are completely irreplaceable as mentors in my journey. On a motivational and perseverance level, I always point to family. My dad worked his tail off with the railroad for 55 years to ensure my brother and I had every opportunity to move forward and pursue whatever dreams we wanted. He sacrificed a lot and taught us what that sacrifice meant. My mom was my coach and the hammer when I needed someone to give it to me straight. She is my rock and still to this day does so much to support me and my family. My Grandy (grandfather), is another hard-working man who was my coach, my biggest supporter and the one who helped me through my masters. As the only granddaughter of 6 grandchildren, he always told me not the let the boys push me around and that I could accomplish anything. Upon completion of my master’s program, he was the first one I called. On a professional level, I point to many of the AD’s I have had the pleasure working with. The boys in my league have been an amazing support system and always pick up the phone when I have questions. My district counterpart, Eric Johnson with Windsor High School, is someone that I can always count on to help me through some of the many challenges that this job throws out. Working in the same district with someone that has the knowledge base and background experience that EJ brings to this job has allowed me to learn a lot about processes and essentials to finding success. Success not only for me, but for the coaches and athletes that I work with daily. Plus, I can count on him to calm my mind when I’m losing it.
Share with us one mistake you may have made early in your career and what you learned from it.
I am a busybody and I often take on more that I should. I know that I have made plenty of mistakes because I overload and because I am human. Even after all my years in education, I still struggle to take a moment to breath and do nothing. I will admit this is something that I have started to focus on more the last several years because exhaustion is a terrible alternative. Every other mistake that I have ever made, of which there are many, has led me to this very point. I’ve learned, over time, that it’s ok to make mistakes if you are willing to admit it, make corrections and move forward.
What is the significance of women serving in your current position?
As an athletic director I think it’s important to have more females in these roles to show athletes that you don’t have to be 6′ 6″, a baritone, and possess the physique, or former physique, of a concrete wall. Women love to lead, and women love sports and that’s cool. I believe it also shows all genders that women in leadership roles see things differently, bring different perspectives and provide diversity in the conversation. Everyone possesses their own strengths, regardless of gender. The important part is that those strengths should be taken seriously, regardless of gender.
What impact has Title IX had on you personally, and on your profession?
Title IX allowed me to participate in soccer, basketball & softball in high school. Both girls’ soccer & softball were new to my high school when I participated. Those sports were very important parts of my high school experience.
What is one bit of advice you would share with others coming into this role?
Maintain a healthy work/life balance, stay true to yourself, have a sense of humor, don’t take anything personally, and don’t be afraid to say what you know to be right and impactful. This role is full of men that have a lot to say, there is nothing wrong with being a woman who has just as much to say and just as much knowledge to share.
We appreciate the work that you are doing and the opportunity to talk with you.
