The Many Faces of CHSAA Leadership – Beth Hulac

March is Women’s History Month and provides yet another opportunity to highlight 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.

Today, we talk with Beth Hulac, the High School Athletics Manager for Denver Public Schools. The Colorado College graduate is in her 20th year in education, and her 10th year in her current position.

Can you share your career journey with us?
I started out as a special education paraprofessional in my kids’ elementary school. During that time, I also started working athletic events, adding more and more sports and more responsibility for running those events. 10 years ago, one of my mentors, Karen Higel, invited me to be a full-time part of her team. As a former DPS athlete whose own athletic experience was such a meaningful part of my development, I was excited to move into the athletics side of education and work to provide those opportunities for others.

Did you participate in sports growing up?
I played soccer from kindergarten all the way through college. Soccer helped me feel strong in my body, it developed friendships that continue today, and it pushed me to excel mentally and physically.

What do you love most about being the High School Athletics Manager?
I love the opportunities to see student athletes in action. I love when student athletes push themselves to try a new sport at the high school level.

Can you name a challenge you face in your current position?
Many men still feel more comfortable communicating with other men.

Who are some of your mentors?
Karen Higel, the recently retired District Athletic Director for Denver Public Schools, worked hard to introduce me to other women in the field. She made sure I understood how and why she made decisions. She continues to listen and provide support to me while helping me understand other’s motivations. My mom recently retired from her career of almost 60 years and her job of 46 1/2 years. She exemplifies the strength of quiet leadership. Her intellectual curiosity and work to center herself daily helped her continue to learn and grow in her work inspiring me to push myself to continue to evolve. She finds beauty in the details of the music she creates or the photographs she captures, details that so many others miss in the rush of life.

What is the significance of women serving in your current position?
There’s still a tendency for people to look to a male in the room for answers as more of an authority figure in the world of sports. It’s important for all adults and all student athletes to see women as knowledgeable in their fields, as leaders with the power and capability to inspire, collaborate and guide. Leadership skills are and should be varied.

What needs to be done to open doors for more women to be in your position?
When possible, more hybrid work opportunities need to be made available. Mothers continue to shoulder a greater percentage of day-to-day parenting duties making a job in interscholastic sports especially challenging.

What is one bit of advice you would share with young women entering a male-dominated profession?
Find other women that support and encourage you, that find joy in lifting other women up, that know that your growth is our collective success.

How do you see yourself impacting the next generation of female leaders?
My hope it that the DPS Women in Sports Leadership group that I’ve started gives women a safe place to be vulnerable, make connections and grow. I hope that this community inspires them to continue in their work of coaching and leading our future leaders. I also hope that the student athletes that see me speaking at, or leading events see me pushing myself out of my comfort zone and that makes the prospect of leadership more accessible to them.