CFC Announces Mike Cowan as the new GRASSP Program Director
SALEM, Ore. – Capital FC welcomes Mike Cowan as the new Program Director for the Grass Roots After School Program (GRASSP).
Cowan comes to Capital FC directly from nine years as an educator in Salem Keizer School district. He holds his Masters Degree in Special Education and has been involved with the School District’s Unified Sports program. He is currently working on a Doctoral Degree in Education with a focus on Transformational Leadership through sports.
“We’re thrilled to have Mike as a part of our team,” says Collin Box, Executive Director. “When we received the funding for this program, he was our top choice because of his background and experience with the program as a coach at Four Corners.”
Prior to teaching in Salem, Cowan worked at Sekolah Pelita Harapan International School in Jakarata, Indonesia as a PE teacher and Athletic Director. He also ran their futsal programs, volleyball programs, and sporting events.
Cowan was instrumental in the GRASSP Program during his time at Four Corners Elementary School from 2015-2020.
GRASSP THEN AND NOW
GRASSP is a school-based program to engage at-risk students through soccer to identify with, connect to, participate in, learn from and enjoy school – as well as develop good character and good decision-making skills for life.
Free to students, the program is a partnership between CFC, Salem Leadership Foundation, and Salem Keizer School District. Schools use the program to engage high-risk 4th and 5th grade students through soccer primarily at Title 1 schools, and help keep them engaged and motivated to stay involved with school.
Started in 2013, the program grew to have a presence in sixteen schools by 2020. Since the School District did not allow volunteers to work within the schools during COVID, the 16 schools that were involved had to cease operations.
In Spring of 2022, the School District began allowing volunteers back to the schools, and at the end of the 2022 school year, four schools were restarted. Much of the burden has been carried by Robert Garcia, Salem Leadership Foundation’s West Salem Lightning Rod.
Capital FC was then approached by Mountain West Investment Group, who shared the club’s vision to re-start GRASSP. In September of 2022, a donation from Mountain West gave CFC the funds to hire a full-time program director for the first time.
As of today, GRASSP is now back in 12 elementary schools and looks to continue to grow into more schools with Cowan’s leadership.
“GRASSP is significant to our schools because kids love soccer and it strengthens their connection to education,” says Mike. “Community leaders and I share a desire to improve and expand GRASSP to its fullest potential.”
To learn more about GRASSP, visit grasspsoccer.com
