Norwalk High School has a new Activities Director for the upcoming school year, but Josh Tobey is no stranger to the school or the community.

Tobey, a native of Forest City, Iowa, moved to the Norwalk/Cumming area in 2007 and spent five years as a middle school science teacher, coach and middle school activities director in the Norwalk School District.

Despite serving the last 10 years in the Johnston School District – eight as Assistant Athletic Director and the last two as Activities/Athletic Director – Tobey and his family have continued to reside in Cumming.

Tobey’s hiring was approved by the Norwalk Community School District Board of Directors on February 2, 2022, and he officially became the Warriors’ new AD on July 1. Tobey says he is happy to be back.

“Johnston was a fantastic place,” he said. “It’s been such a great opportunity for me professionally and personally to work with two different groups of people at Norwalk and Johnston… people that really care about kids and want to do things the right way, so I’m really excited to be back here.”

Tobey says the transition back to Norwalk has been very smooth since he already knows a lot of the school staff and they are familiar with him. He also likes the fact that retiring AD Al Lammers is staying on through the end of September. Lammers has served the school district for more than 33 years in some capacity, including 17 as the Activities Director.

“I think Al calls himself my consultant, but he’s been fantastic,” Tobey says. “Whenever you have somebody like Al that’s been around for 20-plus years in the AD role, one of the things you really worry about is just that transfer of institutional knowledge. To have him around every day with me – a phone call away, willing to help out in any way – I’ve been blessed to have that.

“The people have been great and patient with me as I get started back, and I’m looking forward to the fall athletic season and activity season coming up.”

Tobey earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Iowa State University and his master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He taught and coached for five years at the Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Missouri, before moving back to Iowa in 2007.

Josh and his wife, Heather, have been married for 19 years and have three children: Elena (16), Jack (13) and Landry (10).