Brian Pederson to Serve as Interim Activities Director at Sioux Falls Lutheran School
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Pederson has agreed to serve as Interim Activities Director at SFLS.
Mr. Pederson holds a degree in elementary education from Salem International University, WV, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the soccer team’s captain. While his passion for athletics is widely known, he can also play four instruments and has a love for theatre. Mr. Pederson has two daughters enrolled at SFLS and a baby girl who currently stays at home with his wife, Stephanie. Mr. Pederson’s professional experience includes:
2003-2009: Professional Soccer Player, MN Thunder, “U” Cluj Romania
2008-20010: Director of Youth Development, MN Thunder
2010-2011: Director of Youth Development, Austin Aztecs FC
2001-2015: Executive Directory, Orlando City SC
2015-present: Vice President, Trucker’s Nationwide, Inc.
Mr. Pederson’s professional experience in the athletic world has equipped him with extensive experience in building club teams and programs for youth players ages 4-18, promoting player/coach/camper retention, managing programming for 3,000+ youth campers, conducting coaching clinics for professional players and community youth coaches, managing budgets and yearly financial goals up to $2.5+ million, writing and implementing 1, 2 and 3 year business plans, and more.
“Brian’s extensive experience in youth development and programming will be a huge asset to SFLS as we add grades 9-12 during the 2020-2021 school year and move forward with expanding extracurricular opportunities for students of all ages,” SFLS Administrator, Tia Esser, said. “In addition to having an incredible resume, Brian’s love for the Lord, his family, and serving others is simply stunning. I am thrilled to have him on board, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for our SFLS family over the next several years.”
Mr. Nicholas Deeter, who has served as Athletic Director at SFLS for the past 6 years, will conclude his time as Athletic Director at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. He looks forward to continuing his teaching career at SFLS and spending more time with his growing family.
“I’m excited to see where Brian takes SFLS activities in the years to come,” Mr. Deeter said. “His excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead is clear, and I can’t imagine leaving our program in better hands.”
Check out the Q&A below to meet Mr. Pederson and learn more about his new position at SFLS:
What first sparked your interest in sports and music?
I always loved hanging out with my friends, whether that happened as we were playing sports or playing in a band. I also love that activities like sports, music, and art are the ultimate form of self-expression. It is now my honor to help expand extracurricular offerings at SFLS in order to foster even greater community growth.
You have extensive experience as both a soccer player and director of youth clubs, academies, camps, and clinics. How do you anticipate your professional experiences with those organizations to guide or impact your work at SFLS?
The obvious answer is, “managing multi-million dollar budgets, hundreds of staff, thousands of players, and building programs from scratch have prepared me for this next step.” However, what I want everyone to know is that I’m prepared for this next opportunity because the Lord has always given me the strength and resilience to be successful in my work. Most importantly, I know in my bones and realize that He is the giver of all good things.
What excites you most about serving as the interim activities director at Sioux Falls Lutheran School?
I personally love SFLS. Not only am I an alumni, but two of my children attend school here and my wife, Stephanie, is deeply involved with the school community. I am so thankful for her encouragement and support—she is fully behind this endeavor and that means the world to me!
I am also excited because the foundation for our next phase of growth at SFLS is very firm. There are no limits to what we can accomplish because all of the necessary groundwork is already in place. My confidence in that statement is fueled by the genuine belief in this place and the people in it. It’s only by God’s grace and mercy that I have the privilege to be a part of enhancing the great things SFLS already has in place, and I am humbled by that opportunity.
About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
At Sioux Falls Lutheran School, our mission is to develop capable, Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, we are committed to partnering with parents and the church to raise lifelong learners who use their gifts and the fruits of the Spirit, in faith, to touch a troubled world with God’s grace.