|
Happy Sunday, Pride!
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We have a busy week ahead of us of teaching and learning.
On Saturday I spent a few minutes with our Business Professionals of America (BPA) team during their community yard sale. It was great seeing so many families come out to support these students as they are raising funds to help pay for their trip to Anaheim, CA. They are heading to CA later in the month to compete at the National BPA Competition.
Thinking about our BPA team got me thinking about the role of a coach. Our BPA coaches are high school teacher, Mr. Cooper, and parent and board member, Dr. Saladin. Our Spring varsity coaches are Coach McConnell, a parent who coached our varsity golf team, to their first varsity win earlier this week with a win over Chesterfield High School, and Coaches Washington, Townsend, and T. Wilson. for track.
Coaches play such an important role. A coach makes a difference in the lives of his/her players. How can we do the same with our children?
Great coaches know their individual players well. They know their strengths and weaknesses. They know what motivates them and what discourages them. They know their needs and their wants. When they understand their players, they know how to bring out the best in them which then helps them to be most successful.
Great coaches show players that it takes a whole team working together in order to win. There are two aspects of this thought. Players (and our children) have to know that life is not all about them. We are always a part of something bigger than ourselves whether that is called a family, a class, or a team. In addition, coaches (and parents and teachers) need to know that others can help us lead the team. When is it best to step forward in a situation with a player/child and when do we need to step back and allow someone else to take the lead? When might it be best to talk with other coaches before making a decision? How can parents and teachers work together to address a child's needs? The old expression of "It takes a village to raise a child" is probably more true than we want to believe. That's why I'm a big believer in our Pride.
Great coaches know themselves. A coach can't lead a player where he/she hasn't been. When things don't go as planned, a coach should be looking at him/herself first before analyzing the rest of the team.
As parents and teachers, we must look at ourselves to determine if we're being the best models for our children to follow. The speed of the leader reflects the speed of the team. Others are always willing to follow leaders who are worth following. Our children will become the best they can be when we are our most mature and healthy selves. There is no question that great coaches make a difference in the lives of their players. Let's do all we can as parents and teachers to be great coaches as well.
Lions, let's be the best versions of ourselves this week and have another stellar week.
In Strength and Blessings,
~Dr. Compton
| 
