Long time cross country coach & technology teacher Mark Chipman begins and grows cross country program

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15 individuals recieved all-State

19 teams went to State

13 individual League Championships

15 team League Championships

9 school records

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Cross country coach Mark Chipman is more than just a teacher that has been at Mill Valley for 15 years. He is a veteran of the district, and this year marks his 33rd year in the district.  Chipman’s teaching career began in 1977 and has been in USD232  since 1982.He has seen new curriculum implemented and technology improve.

“Mill Valley has grown and has gotten a lot bigger and gotten a lot more progressive, more students more staff,” Chipman said.

Being one of the original teachers in the school district, Chipman experienced the effects of a districts becoming so large.

“When I first started De Soto, it was a real small district, and I knew probably 90 percent of the teachers in the district. As De Soto got bigger, that changed,” Chipman said. “When I came to Mill Valley, the teachers [pretty much] came from De Soto so I knew most of them, then the same situation occurred.”

Due to Chipman’s extensive experience in the district, Chipman feels that he is considered a role model among his colleagues.

“I feel that people kind of look up to me since I’ve been here that long,” Chipman said. “I enjoy still working with colleagues that I worked with for a long time, plus new teachers and colleagues that come on.”

Chipman has also been involved in both De Soto  and Mill Valley’s cross country program’s. He took his passion for running, which began in college and was able to start the cross country program and see it progress for both De Soto and Mill Valley. “I started the cross country program at Mill Valley, I started the program at De Soto, so I’ve seen both of them grow from infancy,” Chipman said.

Chipman’s hopes for the cross country team are to continue to see it grow and improve.

“The numbers have gone up [about] every year and I like to see that,” Chipman said. “I enjoy working with the kids and seeing them improve.”

Coaching is gratifying for Chipman, and is something that he has done for many years.

“I have always enjoyed coaching,” Chipman said. “I have coached lots of different sports [including] cross country, track [and] basketball.”

The bonding that occurs between Chipman and his team is what he enjoys most about coaching.

The proudest moment in Chipman’s career  was to see both girls and boys teams two years ago receive third at state.

“That’s the highest we’ve ever finished, and since we did it in the same year, that was pretty neat,” Chipman said.

Former cross country coach Allison Stoppel admires Chipman’s expansive knowledge and skills.

“He is experienced, he’s wise, and I think he sets a great role model for kids … it’s definitely been an inspiration on me on how to work with students,” Stoppel said.