As a lifelong resident of Westport, a graduate of Westport High School, and a mother of two children currently in the school system, I do my best to understand the decisions made by the schools and support them whenever possible.

Last Friday, a decision was made to not renew the current athletic director’s contract for the 2023-24 school year. This is not a decision I can understand or support. Why would someone who has done as much as Jason Pacheco has for our schools, sports, and community be let go?

Jason Pacheco has been the Athletic Director in Westport for 11 years and in that time he has made an impact on thousands of students within the school system as well as other children in the community by volunteering in his free time. He has made the school sports programs what they are today and is the reason why our sports programs have thrived over the years.

Under Jason’s leadership, on average at least one of Westport’s teams has won a league championship each year. That’s in addition to numerous teams that have made it to the finals in tournaments at all levels. The Wildcats baseball team has won back-to-back league championships under Jason’s guidance. He has been voted Coach of the Year three times since taking over as the head coach of the team.

Our athletes have gone on to attend Harvard, Brown, Ohio State, Purdue and many other prestigious schools around the country. Talent and academics were of course a large part of the students' acceptance to those schools but another just as important piece was a strong athletic program that allowed them to shine and taught them how to be respectful teammates and members of society.

During the school year, Jason would stop by the cafeteria during lunch several days a week just to say Hi and check in on students. He ensures every student is treated fairly and they trust that he always has their best interest in mind.

I have never met a more dedicated employee who worked as hard and spent as much time as Jason did making sure each program was a success.

Jason Pacheco is the face and heart of the Westport Athletics program.

Gina Marshall

Westport