Kathy Herrera has already worn several hats during her time at La Conner Schools, and will don another one – along with a mask – for the 2020-21 academic year.

Herrera, who served as La Conner Middle and High School athletic director and assistant principal during her first two years here, has a new job title.

She has been tabbed to succeed Todd Torgeson as the school district’s junior and senior high principal while retaining her duties as athletic director.

Torgeson resigned this spring after three years of a second stint with La Conner Schools.

There has been a smooth handoff from Torgeson, a former state championship quarterback, to Herrera, who arrived in La Conner in 2018 from southwest Colorado.

Herrera and Torgeson recently teamed with parents, community members and Braves football players on the interview process that selected Jeff Scoma as the high school program’s new head coach.

“We worked well together and he will truly be missed,” Herrera said of Torgeson. “He was a strong leader who was great at finding solutions to issues as they arose.”

Herrera anticipates juggling a variety of roles – instructional leader, building administrator and athletics program coordinator – as the school system moves forward in an uncertain climate clouded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Time management will definitely be challenging,” she told the Weekly News. “I’m usually well organized, but with more things to manage I will have to amp up my management skills.”

As one would expect of an athletic director, Herrera has hit the ground running.

“I will be working with a committee to develop a plan for our return to school in the fall,” she said. “We feel that having staff, student and family input is very important as we work through our next steps for returning to school.”

The panel will in the next couple weeks address various scenarios being considered for the start of school in September.

Of one thing Herrera is certain.

“My primary goal as principal,” she said, “will be keeping our students as the main focus and at the forefront of everything we do as a staff.”

Herrera, her husband Chris, and the couple’s daughters, Morgan and Makayla, have each made their presence felt at La Conner Schools.

Chris Herrera has been a member of the La Conner High coaching staff and worked the scorer’s table at home basketball games.

Morgan Herrera graduated last month from La Conner High, where she was an outstanding volleyball and basketball player and track-and-field athlete. She will study at the University of Washington and compete in the discus and hammer throw.

As a La Conner freshman last year, Makayla Herrera joined her sister on the state champion Lady Braves’ volleyball team and state runner-up basketball squad.

“The La Conner community and schools have been amazing to myself and my family,” Herrera said. “They have welcomed us with open arms from Day One.