For Immediate Release December 13, 2011 The Salem School Division is pleased to announce that Jamie Garst has been named the new varsity baseball coach at Salem High School, effective immediately. Garst replaces Jim Stepp, who resigned in October after 15 successful seasons with the Spartans. "I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with these student athletes,” says Garst. “We have a strong group of players returning this coming year and I truly look forward to getting back on the field with them." Garst’s appointment was made official by the members of the Salem School Board this evening at their regular monthly meeting. He has been teaching chemistry and International Baccalaureate level biology at the high school since 2008, and he was an assistant baseball coach at Salem in 2010 and 2011. “I am very pleased that Mr. Garst will be joining our coaching staff,” says Salem High School principal, John Hall. “He will bring us leadership and skill sets that will greatly benefit our athletes and programs, and I have the greatest confidence in his maturity and dedication to Salem High.” Garst he was a four-year starter in both baseball and football before graduating from Salem High School in 1999. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 2003 from Virginia Tech and later earned Masters’ degrees in biochemistry and curriculum and instruction from Tech. “I had the distinct privilege of being one of Jamie's teachers when he was a freshman at Salem High School,” says Salem Superintendent, Dr. Alan Seibert. “He was a remarkable young man then and he is an accomplished professional educator now. “As Division Superintendent and as a parent of children in Salem City Schools, I am thankful to have role models like Mr. Garst serving in Salem and am delighted that as the Spartans’ head baseball coach he will have yet another opportunity positively impact young lives,” he says. Garst and his wife, Sarah, have a young son, Jackson. Contact: Dr. Alan Seibert Salem School Division Superintendent (540) 389-0130 - office [email protected] Mike Stevens City of Salem Communications Director (540) 375-4112 - office (540) 353-2041 - cell [email protected]