By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
Special to Hays Post
Opportunities in professional careers oftentimes are all about timing.
That was the case for Troy Schulte back in 2016 when he learned of an opening for the activities director position at his alma mater in Hays, Kansas.
Schulte was quite content at his job as assistant principal and boys’ basketball coach at Archie (Mo.) High School, about 50 miles southeast of Kansas City.
But it was a good time to make a move for his family. Schulte, a Hays native, successfully pursued that position at Thomas More Prep-Marian, where he has also served as assistant principal the past seven years.
Timing came calling again this winter for Schulte.
Jeff Kramer, a retired superintendent from the Archie school district, called Schulte one evening and told him the principal’s position at Archie High had just opened up.
A couple of interviews, several family talks and a lot of prayers later, Schulte is heading back to Missouri this summer.
Once again, it came at what seemed a perfect time for Schulte’s family. His youngest daughter, Jaden, will graduate from TMP-M in May and join her older brother, Jackson, at Wichita State University next fall. His oldest daughter, Jordan Hixon, and her family — husband Nick and young son Wells — also live in Wichita.
Empty-nesters Troy Schulte and his wife, Sharon, are looking for a home in southern metro Kansas City, with plans to make several family visits to Wichita.
“We loved living in Archie, but to have the opportunity for Jackson and Jaden to go to a Catholic high school and grow in their faith was a great opportunity,” Schulte said. “I have grown in my faith as well. Now, we think this is another great opportunity.”
Schulte has enjoyed a good run at TMP-M. The Monarchs annually do well in all their extracurricular activities, from visual and creative arts and scholastic teams such as scholars bowl and chess — and everything in between.
His first love — athletics — have done exceptionally well. The Monarchs have qualified individuals or teams for state every year during his tenure at TMP-M, including three years in basketball when his son Jackson was playing.
Schulte also got back into coaching at TMP-M the past four years. In the past two years as the school’s junior high coach, the Monarchs compiled an incredible record of 80-0 across the entire program.
He admits the coaching bug bit him hard, and he wouldn’t mind pacing the sidelines at the high school level again if that opportunity ever came up.
But for now, the Archie Whirlwinds will have to wait.
Schulte wants to enjoy making his farewell tour through the Monarchs’ spring sports programs with plans to hopefully attend a few more state events as the TMP activities director.
“Even walking around school, I know it’s winding down,” he said. “There are a lot of mixed feelings for sure.”
He is excited about the next step of his professional journey — and his first job as principal of a school — but he will never forget his roots.
A 1989 graduate of TMP-M, Schulte received his bachelor’s degree from the hometown university, Fort Hays State. His wife’s parents, Bob and Carol Feauto, still live in Hays, as do several of Sharon’s siblings.
Schulte said he especially is fond of the memories during his second go-around in Hays, especially the relationships he has built with people in and out of school.
“Hays is home. It will always be home,” Schulte said. “I developed a lot of good relationships both in school and in the community the past seven years. When you work with people in a private school setting — who volunteer to help you out, just wanting to be of service — you develop a strong bond.”