After working as an assistant principal for since 2022, Zach Dudley has accepted a new position as the Activities Director for next school year. The announcement came earlier this week, after current Activities Director Ryan Schartz announced he had taken a new position at Oak Grove. Dudley understands the potential the school has.
“I’m really excited about it,” Dudley said, “I think there’s a lot of really good things going on with our athletics and our activities, and I look forward to being involved a little more and seeing what else we can pull out of our school.”
Dudley started working with Fort Osage in 2008, but left for Higginsville in 2012. Fort Osage alumni and previously the controller of the Fort Osage Barstool memepage on Instagram, which Dudley was a frequent subject of, Ethan Lamb feels that Dudley was super involved with the schools’ activities.
“He was always involved one way or another,” Lamb said, “from being a coach to just showing up and hanging out with the players as a principal, he always found a way to be present at every event. I think that shows a lot.”
Dudley, who also graduated from Fort Osage, had Ryan Schartz as a basketball coach. Schartz believes Dudley has knowledge of the school few people can match.
“Coach Dudley I’ve known for a long time, he’s been a student with me and I coached him, and I know he is a Fort Osage guy, through and through,” Schartz said, “He has knowledge of this community and this school beyond most, and he has an energy and an initiative that this district will enjoy.”
After being at Higginsville for four years, Dudley came back in 2016 as a teacher and Football, Baseball, and Wrestling coach. Dudley admits he’s been interested in the position for awhile.
“I always kinda thought this was a position I’d like to get into,” Dudley said, “I love being involved in activities and I think that this has been in view and when the opportunity happened I just jumped on it.”
Dudley will officially take the new position on July 1st.
