From newsroom to academia
Ben Pherson has spent many hours in school gyms, fields, and tracks during the course of his adult life.
As a Sports Editor at the Post Bulletin and a newspaper veteran of 20 years he has seen many different schools from small ones to big ones.
Last year Pherson decided to buy a home in Kasson and moved there with his wife and three children under the age of five for one reason.
Because of the school district.
“I felt Kasson was best by far the best school district , and knew that's where I wanted my kids to go to school,” Pherson said.
That’s why it’s so fitting that after 20 years, Pherson will have his first job outside of sports reporting as he accepted the position of Communications/ Administrative Specialist for the KM District Office.
Pherson for the last couple of years has had his eyes set on getting a position at KM.
In 2016 Pherson applied to be the Activities Director for KM schools. Although he didn’t get the position he was optimistic that he would one day join the school staff.
After seeing an open position as Superintendent/ School Board Secretary, Pherson decided to go for it.
Mark Matuska, Superintendent for KM Schools explained that after they knew that they would go with Pherson for the position they decided to tweak the position some to take advantage of his skill set and experience.
“Ben brings a real intriguing skill set to this position,” Matuska said, “we are going to try to take advantage of the all the different opportunities that he brings to this position,” he added.
For Pherson, his journey into the world of academia is a unique one.
After graduating from Mankato State, in 2000, the St. Peter native got his start in journalism at The Mankato Free Press.
Ever since he has been a journalist.
Over his career he had stops at a Red Wing paper, a stop in Wisconsin and finally landed in Rochester at the Post Bulletin where he would have worked for 13 years in November.
Even though he will no longer be a reporter he is very much looking forward to the new challenges and is excited to see what the position will evolve into.
“I am excited for the challenge,” Pherson said.
For Pherson what he is looking forward to most is the different leaders in the school district including Matuska.
“Seeing the way Matuska leads is inspiring,” Pherson said, “I think I can learn a lot from him and others in the district office,” he added.
Matuska is looking forward to having Pherson on board and is excited for the passion he brings to the staff.
“He has a real passion and commitment to his career as a sports editor and reporter and it is clear that he will continue his passion for the students, staff and community of Kasson and Mantorville,” Matuska said.
Pherson is expected to begin his career with KM at the end of January.