Coaching Environment

In 2021, I was able to work with other coaches and athletic directors to develop a soccer program for the county. Each school year, Memorial Middle School makes an effort to form teams of both boys' and girls' soccer, however exact numbers depend on those who try out. As head coach, I took my teams to the finals 3 years in a row, 1 of which resulted in a championship. For a total of 16 games per season, our team plays 4 middle schools from our county and 4 from a nearby county. Our home games are played at the local high school, while we practice on a field behind the school.

The school currently does not have many stakeholders for our soccer program, but the ones we do have are incredibly valuable. Our parents, who are essential in helping the team, and nearby companies are among our stakeholders. A booster club was formed by the school this year, and its current goals include getting more parents involved and forming partnerships with local businesses to secure more funding. Double Good popcorn has been our main fundraising partner thus far, contributing $300 to $1,000 toward the soccer program. In addition to paying the soccer fees and bringing food, one parent has kindly provided practice bags, uniforms, warm-ups, and more at a low price. In addition, we have solid working relationships with Crown Awards and Trophy.com, who offer us discounts as a result of their long-standing relationships with the county. These partnerships, together with money earned, assist in tackling the expense of uniforms, soccer officials, equipment, awards, banquets, and transportation.

Support for the soccer program at Memorial Middle School is much appreciated by the administration, which includes the principals and athletic director. In particular, the athletic director organizes the scheduling of games, arranges transportation, and manages funds for the entire soccer program. The athletic director also helps the team acquire sponsors and funding, which adds to the program's overall expansion. The athletic director and principal collectively help to maintain the code of ethics and enforce school and athletic requirements, ensuring that both staff and athletes adhere to high standards. Their participation guarantees the success of the soccer program by ensuring that all activities and events follow school and athletic policies.

Among my many responsibilities are teaching health and physical education, coaching soccer, serving as an instructional facilitator for the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) committee, leading the Connections department at Memorial Middle School, and participating in the School Improvement Plan (SIP) committee. As a teacher, my main goals are to help students understand the value of lifelong fitness by encouraging physical exercise and health education. As a soccer coach, I work with student-athletes to develop their character and skills via the game. My PBIS responsibilities include encouraging good behavior and assisting staff in setting behavior strategies into practice in order to create a healthy school climate. On the SIP committee, I work alongside administrators and teachers to evaluate and improve academic and extracurricular programs. I guide and assist other educators as the Connections department chair, assisting in the planning of curriculum and coordinating activities for our department. Through these positions, I have been able to establish relationships with educators, staff, and students in and out of the classroom, which has improved my overall influence at the school.