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| My Fairfield Lady Tiger team after we defeated powerhouse Wenonah Lady Dragons in 1995. |
In 1995 I got a call from Dr. Newton, who was formerly the assistant superintendent at Fairfield. She had accepted a position as the assistant superintendent at Homewood and wanted me to interview for the girls basketball position. Simultaneously, Terry Cooper the athletic director at Mountain Brook, also asked me to interview for the girls basketball job at MBHS. I was offered both jobs, but didn't want to take either one. I knew that MBHS was not the right fit. It felt like a "private school masquerading as a public school" =) I loved my team at Fairfield, we were on the verge of something BIG and in fact the Fairfield girls went to the Final Four with my assistant coach leading the way after I accepted the position at Homewood!! I felt like I was taking a risk by coming to Homewood. There were so many reasons to accept the job, but I was in my comfort zone at Fairfield. I started working at Homewood and spent the first two years as the In School Suspension teacher. It just didn't feel like where I was supposed to be. I was bored and miserable sitting in ISS. After two years of ISS, Ms. Lilly King - one of the PE teachers at HHS - asked me if I would like to change jobs with her. I immediately said YES!!!! I was headed back to the gym, to my comfort zone. I coached three sports, in fact I was the head coach of three varsity sports. Whew... that was tough. I also completed my Master's in PE at that time. After a few years of success with basketball and a Sweet 16 appearance -
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| Homewood Lady Patriots at Jacksonville State, Sweet 16. |
I began to look closely at how I taught my PE classes. I didn't feel like I ignored them, but I honestly wasn't doing my best. I gave most of my energy to the girls basketball program. One day in PE class, I needed to meet with my point guard. I knew she had an elective, so I sent for her to come to the gym. She and I talked for the entire class period. My PE students were playing badminton, organized and didn't need my attention... at least I thought they didn't need my attention. After class, one of my PE students came up to me and said, "Why don't you ever talk to us one-on-one?". That question, completely broke my heart. Those PE kids needed me just as much as my athletes, if not more. I began to change my focus a bit. Within a few weeks of the encounter with that student, Dr. Chappell emailed about the NBCT process. I went to the organizational meeting, which Mr. Ed Larson led. I decided that I would give it a shot. I wanted to improve as a teacher, and this would allow me to really look closely at how I taught my classes. I am not the best grammatically, but had help from home-thank you Jami Wadkins, and Rebecca Stallings was assigned as my mentor for the NBCT process. With lots of help, I passed!!!! It was the turning point of my career. During PE class, I focused on those kids. I waited until basketball practice to focus on my athletes. If you are a coach, I challenge you to do the same. Give your best to your students while you have them. Give your best to your athletes, while you have them. A few years passed, and once again, Dr. Chappell sent out an email about the administrative cohort at Samford University. I applied, was accepted and completed the administrative program. Next up, I started thinking about a leadership position. The timing was perfect!!! Susan Cook, our girl's AD at the time was retiring. I had more experience than anyone who applied. I just knew the job was mine. I couldn't wait to start leading our girls program. I went into the interview feeling great. I had coached varsity volleyball, tennis, basketball, softball, and cross country. Dr. Winches and Mr. Carlisle were the two people who interviewed me. At the end of the interview, Dr. Winches stepped out and Mr. Carlisle asked me to stick around for a few minutes. I sat in his office and listened to him explain that the job would not be offered to me, but instead Carol Chesnutt would be coming from Simmons Middle School. I was devastated, crushed, humiliated and angry, so angry that I began to pursue other jobs. I was offered an assistant basketball coaching job at Samford University and also the head basketball job at Shades Valley High School. I didn't accept either job. Instead, I accepted defeat, but didn't let it define me. I lost the job to Carol but I won a career-changing lesson. I learned that sometimes bad things happen to good people and you just have to keep up the good fight. It's not easy to come to work knowing that you lost your position to someone else. It's not easy accepting defeat. My response was to feel sorry for myself for a few weeks and then begin to look closely at my professional life. After 19 years of coaching, I needed a change. I didn't know where to turn, but felt like something different was out there waiting for me. When Dr. Cleveland and Dr. Maddox approached me about the idea of a wellness program, I was once again, asked to step out of my comfort zone, which was frightening. I walked into the locker room the same day, looked at my basketball team and explained to them that I would not be coaching them next season. I didn't have a job description for wellness, didn't know the expectations but was willing to take a risk. Thank goodness I did. The past seven years have been incredible. Coaching and leading all piled up into one happy place.
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| BCC Team, 2016 |
Defeat led me to wellness, literally and figuratively. Homewood is a great place. I know you hear that all of the time and sometimes take it for granted. Some of you may not be in your happy place professionally, but my story is a testament to the fact that the opportunity is always there in Homewood. You will always have difficult parents, difficult students and difficult situations in this profession. You will always have challenges and change. The best lesson learned is to accept defeat when it comes your way, learn from it and move on. Your next-best life is waiting on you.
I'll be retiring at the end of this semester. I'll continue to work with wellness on a project-based status and continue to support each of you in your pursuit to be your best version of you.
If you've read this far don't forget to post your Patriot Points.
Keep Moving...
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