JERRY CITY – Michele Story doesn’t describe herself as a cheerleader, but that’s exactly what
she is for Elmwood School students.Whether it’s as athletic director or student activities director, she
puts students first and foremost, and goes out of her way to recognize them at ball games as well as
community events.For example, for Tuesday’s senior night at the home boys basketball game, she talked
seniors into videotaping a message for their parents to be shown as they ran out onto the court."There
won’t be a dry eye in the house," Story laughed the afternoon before the game.She duplicated the action
for Thursday’s senior girls basketball game."I thought it was well received," said Superintendent
Tony Borton about the idea.While it was a surprise Tuesday, parents were expecting it Thursday.Story
"goes above and beyond what her job title entails," he stated."I enjoy watching them have
success. I’m hoping I’m making memories these kids will have the rest of their lives," Story stated
about the endeavor.She isn’t one to sit back and let others take charge.She is taking on prom in May and a
dance marathon in April to teach students to foxtrot, waltz, and maybe even polka and salsa. Also in April,
she’s planning a dinner with former Elmwood football coach and now defensive coordinator for the Baltimore
Ravens Dean Pees as a fundraiser for the football stadium.She’ll do public relations for the high school
musical "Annie.""I do that every year. I love that," she stated.She also has instigated
a staff badminton competition.Borton and his partner played, and were beat in the first round."The
teams that are playing are seeming to have a ball," he said.Over the holidays, Story organized – and
sold out – a home tour as a fundraiser for prom."People are asking if that will become a yearly
event," she said.She also does PR for the jazz supper in the spring as well as Taste of Royalty in the
fall.Sitting at her desk in an office with quotes from staff painted on the walls, she looked at her
calendar and pointed out she doesn’t have a free weekend until graduation."When she walks into my
office and says she has an idea, I cringe," admitted Borton. "The joke around here is we have to
learn how to tell her no."Outside her door, the bland beige hallway has perked up with a blue stripe
with painted sayings such as "Roll Down the Field to Victory," "You’ll Never Yield," and
"Get the Ball."When she took over as AD in 2009, she found the hallway "so boring. This
needed something," she decided.So she painted the motivational sayings herself, and collected photos of
the 14 varsity teams to frame and hang in the hallway.Some photos she took herself; for older photos, she
reached out to the community.She does all she does while being paid 30 hours a week. She admits, though, she
sometimes puts in double that.She attends every sporting event."But I enjoy it. That’s why I do
it.""I hope it means as much to the kids to look up into the crowd and see me, as it means for me
to be there for them."A 1981 Elmwood graduate, it was Story’s dream to become a teacher. But when that
didn’t work out, she started her career at her alma mater in 1996 as secretary at the former Wayne
Elementary building."There was never a day I didn’t get up and didn’t want to go to work," she
recalled.She became elementary secretary in the consolidated building in 2004, but then started looking for
a new challenge and spoke to then Superintendent Steve Pritts about becoming athletic director."I
jumped in, and I’ve enjoyed it. There’s not a kid here I don’t know."Her next goal is to get bronze
plaques for the football stadium for Elmwood’s three individual state champions in track.She’s the only
female athletic director in the Northern Buckeye Conference."Eight guys plus me," she said.
"They’ve been so helpful in guiding me through things."Her contract with Elmwood was just extended
through 2015, but then she plans to retire and move some place warmer.Her dream job? Be a wedding planner at
Disney in Florida.Her dream before she retires?"If I could have one wish, it’s to have a state champion
team," she said."I don’t care which (sport) it is. Think of the celebration I could plan
then," she said with a laugh.