Activities Director (AD) and Assistant Principal Troy Stein serves a dual role at Edina High School. His positions offer him a unique perspective as he attempts to improve opportunities for students in every field.
Zephyrus: As AD and Assistant Principal, your dual position is unique. What attracted you to this combined role?
Troy Stein: In order to be a principal in Minnesota, you need to have an administrative license, which is a specialist degree. Edina requires [an administrative license] for their activities director, so to be AD you need to be an assistant principal. No other school in the metro has that combination, but for me, it lets me see and help facilitate a really big cross-section of the high school experience.
Z.: What are some responsibilities you have behind the scenes?
T.S.: There’s a lot that goes on to make sure the finished product of an event happens properly. That can range from coordinating with other entities, to having the space reserved, to having facilities and scheduling set… All of that has to happen before any of the activities or athletics can take place.
Z.: How do you push Edina activities and athletics to our motto of defining excellence?
T.S.: Edina athletics and activities has a legacy of excellence. It starts with quality coaches and coaches that are, number one, knowledgeable in what they coach. Two, they have a passion for what they’re a part of [because] that feeds off and kids feel that. And the third is, they care about kids, and they show it… From there, it’s establishing a mindset that we are continually growing and pushing our program to always expand.
Z.: What is your favorite part of your role?
T.S.: I love the interactions I have with coaches [and] students, and I love watching and helping students compete and follow their passions in something beyond [the high school].
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on Feb. 19, 2026
