Credit to Eashaan Patel

Mike Janes and Dusty Weiskopf talk during Knights of the Round Table on Feb. 28. Janes is currently the head activities director with Weiskopf being Dean of Students. Janes is retiring, letting Weiskopf. fill the role of activities director for his second year at North.

Mike Janes has been an activities director for 21 years, with 20 of those being spent at FHN. He was originally an activities director at Warrenton and transferred to FHSD to pursue his career.

In 2003, he became head coach of FHN’s softball team; in addition to softball, he coached soccer and track and field. While coaching, he worked with two activities directors at Francis Howell and two at FHN, knowing that one day he wanted to become an activities director. Janes left FHN and went to Warrenton High School because they had an opening for an assistant principal and activities director, applying just to see what the process would look like, doubting he would land the job. Janes spent his first year in Warrenton before transferring back to FHN and spending his next 20 years as the activities director.

When going down any career path, there are going to be challenges, lessons learned and changes. One of the challenges Janes faced starting his journey was not knowing anything, as well as not knowing the ins and outs. He emphasized how much networking helped him to be so successful in his career.

Talking to different activities directors in other districts and scheduling so many events, there is always a conversation. Some of his most influential peers were Terry Kasper and Darlene Jones. Kasper was the activities director at FHC who retired roughly 10 years ago and Jones was FHN’s head principal for 17 years.

“She hired me, she took a chance. I mean I was only 29 or 30 when I started here,” Janes said.

Jones and Janes still talk to this day. Reflecting on memorable events and games, he says the most recent Black and Gold Day was special because it was the grand opening of the new school and was organized perfectly by everyone. At FHN our coaches, players and staff members always try to make every game day an event for people to celebrate; whether it be pink out, senior night, teacher appreciation or middle school feeder games.

After 20 years of being an activities director, Janes knew it was time to wrap up his career. On game days, he will be at the school as early as 6:30 a.m. and be one of the last people to leave at night.

“There is paperwork for every game that is played,” Janes said.

Oftentimes, Janes will not even sit to watch games due to his busy schedule. Janes spoke on how FHN has a really good retirement system. According to him, it has made this process go by smoothly for him.

“This process came at a time that is good for me and for the school as a whole, there’s no better people that can do it from here,” Janes said.

North will continue to grow and improve as the years go by, partially due to the work Janes has done up until now.

Looking ahead, FHN’s future activities director will be Dusty Weiskopf. He has known Janes for almost six years through different coworkers and teaching Janes’ daughters. They have built a connection over the years. While the conversation of retiring had been going on for years, it still caught some a bit off guard.

“I wasn’t shocked, I was a little surprised. I thought he would wait a little longer,” Weiskopf said.

Weiskopf sees Janes as a mentor who has helped him out over the years; he was honored to have the opportunity to continue on Janes’ work. Weiskopf believes that he is ready to step into the role. There is always going to be pressure when starting a new job but he is confident that he will do a good job for the community and the students at FHN.

“I want to make this school the best it can be,” Weiskopf said.