Steve Collins ends 33-year career at New Prague schools

Chuck Kajer, Managing Editor

After 33 years, Steve Collins is saying goodbye to the New Prague Area School District.

Collins arrived in New Prague in 1973, fresh out of Bemidji State University and after a three-year stint with the U.S. Marines.

For most of his career, Collins taught physical education and health at New Prague Junior High School and New Prague Middle School. He also served as an assistant and head coach in a number of different sports, most notably as an assistant coach for three state championship football teams (1973, 1974 and 1985) and head coach of the state tournament girls golf team (1992).

Collins was hired by Paul Flick, long-time junior high and middle school principal, who became a model of sorts when Collins entered the administrative field. In 1998, after 25 years of teaching, he became Dean of Students at the middle school, working under principals Jim Johnson and Sue Kreuser. He received his administrators license in 1999 and became assistant principal at New Prague High School in 2001, working with principals Connie Nicholson and Tom Doig.

Collins is grateful that his career began and ended in this community.

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