Collin and Megan Stark pose for a photo with their sons Beckett, center, and Braxton earlier this year.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
WASHINGTON — A middle school teaching opportunity brought Collin Stark to Washington a decade ago. A strong sense of community inspired the math teacher and coach to stay. “Our community is quick to help if someone is in need and our businesses and families always find ways to donate and support our schools.”
Stark is leaning into that support and camaraderie as he begins his first year as principal of St. James Catholic School, which offers faith-based education to students from preschool through fifth grade. Stark previously taught at Washington Middle School and continues to coach boys basketball and golf at Washington High School.
Stark’s transition from teaching to administration began during the COVID-19 pandemic when he decided to work toward a master’s degree. He was unsure of his future goals at first but talks with the Washington Community School District superintendent helped him refine his choices. While completing coursework through Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, “my passion for the administration area of education continued to grow and I started to think more in that lens in my own classroom, wanting to have a greater impact than my own classroom.”
A couple of years ago, St. James Principal Erik Buchholz, eyeing retirement, reached out to Stark and asked if he would be interested in applying for the position. Stark, who is Christian, had a positive opinion of St. James from teaching and coaching graduates of the Catholic elementary school. “I was aware of St. James, their amazing staff, students and families.” However, Stark and his wife, Megan, had just welcomed their first child and felt the timing wasn’t right. When Buchholz reached out again near the end of the 2024-25 school year, “we felt like our family was in a place to be ready for me to take the administration leap.”
Buchholz worked with Stark in June to help with the administrative transition. Stark is grateful for the support he has received from Buchholz, St. James staff and Washington Community Schools administrators as he adjusts to the new job. “Anytime there is change, it’s unfamiliar but change has been good for me to personally grow as a leader and navigate new challenges of being a principal at St. James.”
Stark said he is an introvert by nature but coaching has helped him step out of his comfort zone and develop his leadership style. “There are many different ways to lead people and I have learned that influence is gained by being genuine, caring about each individual person, listening, understanding and doing this in a way that fits my personality. Many stereotypes of coaching are that we have to yell and demand respect — a my-way-or-the-highway-type mentality. Instead, I enjoy coaching similar to being a teacher of the game, allowing my players to have input, listening and challenging them on and off the court. My leadership style as a basketball and golf coach is also the leadership style I plan to utilize as principal for St. James.” The self-described “servant leader” will continue coaching basketball at Washington High School and will transition to a supportive coaching role with the golf team.
Stark plans to spend his first year at St. James learning from staff, observing “all the great things happening at St. James” and ascertaining the challenges. “My hope is to have a better grasp of these three areas to be able to continue to improve and offer support in those areas to make St. James even better.”
