Academic Director Retires from League
By McKensie Wallesen, UIL intern | Tuesday, February 07, 2012 8:44 AM
At the Capital Conference, Academic Director Treva Dayton presents a session to help academic coordinators organize and plan the upcoming year.
Photo by Julianne Coyne
Academic Director Treva Dayton may finally have time to eat.
After 22 years of service as a UIL contest consultant or staff member, Dayton decided to retire on Jan. 31.
“Often I would go to Treva’s office in late afternoon, and she would look up from a pile of work and say, ‘Oh my gosh! I haven’t eaten today,” Journalism Director Jeanne Acton said. “It was crazy. She was so driven in her work that food just escaped her mind.”
While eating isn’t Treva’s main focus for retirement, she will have more time since she no longer will be running the largest academic competition program in the nation.
“I have been blessed to have the opportunity to serve in the positions that I have and to work at something that I truly love for so many years,” Dayton said.
Before receiving her first UIL job as Speech and Debate and A+ Director in 1990, Dayton was heavily involved in UIL as a teacher for nine years. Then in 1997, Dayton took a job at the National Federation of State High Schools Association as the assistant director of speech and debate, music and field hockey.
After enduring too many cold winters, Dayton and her husband, Randy, decided to return to Texas in 2003, and Dayton returned to the League as the A+ Director.
In 2005, Dayton was promoted to Academic Director following the retirement of Bobby Hawthorne.
“I’ve been on committees, written handbooks, worked at state meets...I just love it all!” Dayton said.
Dayton’s dedication to her work was quite apparent to her colleagues.
“It’s inspiring, how much of herself she has given to UIL and how deeply she believes that UIL can change students’ lives for the better,” Speech and Debate Director Jana Riggins said.
A+ Director David Trussell said Dayton’s main goal was to ensure Texas students received the UIL experience they deserved.
“As frustrating as some of the details can be, Treva remained constantly focused on schools, teachers and students,” Trussell said.
Acton said Treva’s dedication and laughter will be missed in the building and across the state.
“Coming to work the day after her retirement was hard,” Acton said. “I will truly miss her leadership, her dedication and her friendship.”
Dayton is looking forward to downtime, but the departure is bittersweet
“I will sincerely miss the wonderful people I have worked with both in the office and throughout the state,” Dayton said. “It has been a privilege to be involved with educators who are passionate about what they do and the students they serve.”
For now, Dayton’s plans include a few extra hours of sleep and three meals a day.
“Now if I can only learn to sleep past 5:15 am, and teach my dogs to do the same, I’ll be a happy camper!” Dayton said.