The job description for an athletic director includes love of sports, enjoys working with young people and is passionate about education and helping students stay on course and dream big.
Delsie Sissoko checks all those boxes – and then some.
The new Skyline athletic director has been in the building for four years so she was well aware of her wonderful surroundings. She was named the Small Learning Community Principal at Skyline in 2020 and expressed interest in the AD position over the summer after Andre Criswell’s resignation.
“Supporting our student athletes both academically and athletically is a passion of mine,” she says. “I had the opportunity to coach our JV girl’s basketball team at Skyline last school year and my passion for athletics was reinvigorated. I love sports and played collegiately.”
Since this is her fifth year at Skyline she is familiar with how the school ticks and what makes it special and unique. “We have incredibly supportive families that genuinely care about the success of their students and ALL students,” she says. “Our teachers, support staff, and administrators go above and beyond. We do not give up and we are willing to face adversity to become the most socially just high school.”
Sissoko, 42, was born and raised in Negaunee, in the Upper Peninsula.
She received a degree in Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education and Math & Science from Finlandia University. She also earned a Masters of Arts: Reading Specialist, K-12, from Eastern Michigan University and School Administrator Certification, K-12, from MASSP. While at Finlandia, she played volleyball and basketball her freshman year and basketball for the next three years.
Sissoko met her husband while attending a college event at Michigan Tech University. They have two children, Brehima, age 18, and Victoria, 13. “They are our most precious gift,” she says. “We love spending time with family, traveling, and visiting the UP,” she says. “I have a spirit that fights for the underdog and I believe in sisu, the Finnish art of courage.”
She has been an educator for 20 years and over the past 10 years has spent time in administration, including high school assistant principal, elementary principal and SLC Principal.
Sissoko says she sees the AD role as an opportunity to further connect the school community and ensure students find a place at Skyline. “Research supports a students’ sense of belongingness and connection to their school increases academic achievement,” she says. “We want every single student to find their place at Skyline and if that comes through athletics I will do my very best to support our athletes.”
And what are her goals for the athletic department?
“In the short term I am learning the nuances of the Athletic Director position and facilitating the complexities of scheduling, coaching, transportation, event supervision, and much more,” she said. “A long term goal I have is to improve our communication to the public via our school website and our established platforms of social media.”
There is no doubt that the landscape of public education has changed drastically in the last decade.
“More and more is expected of administration, teachers, and support staff; as a result it is vital our profession seeks collaboration with our families and school community,” she says.
Sissoko is not only the AD but also an assistant principal.
“As an assistant principal I am working to support our wonderful administrative team and school improvement initiatives,” she says. “We all have to chip in and do the hard work to provide a safe, exceptional learning environment. We have high standards at Skyline and that applies to our athletes as well.”
Photo by Terry Jacoby / WLAA-D
