Snider retires after 30 years at Salem High School

For the past 30 years, Julie Snider has been the go-to person for all things athletics at Salem High School. But this year will be her last as she welcomes retirement with open arms.

“I have enjoyed my time in this position,” she said, adding that it is fairly low stress and she has always enjoyed the people she works with. 

She originally applied for the position to get on the same schedule with her two sons: Joe and Thomas. When she applied the first time, she didn’t get hired because they decided to hire within the corporation. But the next year, she was called back in and asked if she was still interested. She said it worked out perfectly because the year she was hired was the year her youngest son went to kindergarten.

She was part-time athletic secretary and part-time library aid for two years before she was moved full time to the athletic department where she has been since. 

“I’ve just really enjoyed the job and all the people I have worked with,” she said, adding that she has worked for four athletic directors and six principals. 

When asked what has been the biggest change in her job, Snider was quick to answer “technology.” She explained that she used to have to write everything out by hand or use a typewriter. Including schedules, referee contracts, etc. 

“Now, when I need to make a change, it’s just a couple of clicks!” she laughed.

While Snider will miss the people she works with the most, the part she will miss the least is trying to track down student athletes to turn in missing paperwork. 

She said there is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into getting things ready for games and athletic seasons that people don’t often realize. She said they secure schedules and referees sometimes six years out in football and four years out in other sports. 

But Snider is ready to put contracts behind her and travel more with her husband, Bruce. The two have very different schedules, which makes it hard to take vacations. 

“My downtime is his busy time and when I go back to work in the fall, things start to slow down for him,” she said. “To have a more flexible schedule will be nice.”

She’s also looking forward to more day trips with friends! 

“I also plan to get more involved with service projects,” she said, adding that she recently got her dog trained earning a Canine Good Citizen certification. She plans to take him to nursing homes to visit with residents.

No matter what she decides to do, the great thing about retirement is it will be on her own schedule! Thanks for all you have done for SHS, Julie! You will be missed.