My FRAME
Values
There are three core values that I hold true that drive my teaching and coaching: relationships, hard work, and accountability. These values are at the foundation for how I strive to uphold my interactions with my students and athletes that I work with daily. These values serve as principles and daily reminders that are at the core of my values.
Building genuine and meaningful relationships are at the root of these values. For students and athletes, they tend to not care what you have to say until you show that you care about them as a person first. Building trust and connection are the starting points for everything else. Athletes need to feel seen and valued, and that will open the door to true learning, growth and the opportunity to be truly coached. That is why building relationships will be top priority and allow the other values of hard work and accountability to come out as well.
Another value that is part of my FRAME is hard work. We may not always have the most talented team, but we can always control how hard we work. Making that choice to work hard and give great effort is a great equalizer. I preach to my athletes and students that through hard work we can help close the gap when we may feel outmatched. The same goes for when we are in the classroom, some subjects may require more effort and by doing the hard work it will pay off. Regardless of whether we are in the classroom or court I want to push our athletes and students to be the best they can to reach their potential.
The third core value is accountability, which applies to both the individual and the team. Accountability is taking ownership of the actions and inactions and being held to a high standard. It’s about fostering a sense of responsibility for something bigger than just the individual. The expectation is not limited the students or athletes, I hold myself to that same standard of accountability. As a coach and educator, it is a top priority to model the behaviors and standards that are expected.
Every year will bring new students and athletes, but these three values will remain constant. Through these values they will be instilled, modeled and made sure to be reinforced through the season and school year. By holding these values at a premium, the students and athletes that we get to encounter can not only perform better in the classroom and court but also in life after we’ve had the opportunity to work with them. When their time with the program or class is done with us, we want them to look back and understand that there was much more than just a subject or sport.
Culture and Background
I come from a background where relationships, hard work, and accountability were highlighted throughout my life. These values were modeled regularly for me growing up and helped shape how I engage with others as both a teacher and coach.
It was instilled in me at an early age that relationships are everything. It is important to have genuine people in your corner who want you to be the best you can be supporting you through the ups and downs of life. By having this type of support shown at an early age it helped shape how I want to show up for others and be that consistent and supportive presence for others.
Hard work was another cornerstone of my upbringing. I watched my parent’s set goals and demonstrated, that through consistent effort and persistence, hard work will truly pay off. My mother had the goal of going from a teacher to assistant principal and my father being a college head coach. Both accomplished their goals from many of years of working towards what they wanted and planned to achieve it. Having seen this, it allowed me to believe I can set goals and through hard work I can achieve these goals. This helped me develop a strong work ethic and allowed me the opportunity to go after certain things. It also allowed the opportunity for growth through goals that may not have been obtained but lessons were learned.
Life Experiences
Looking back at the course of my life, there have been several experiences that helped shape who I am as a teacher and coach. The one that would no doubt be one of the more defining moments came from my basketball journey when I was cut from multiple teams. Being young and hearing multiple rejection from middle school teams, 9th grade, and junior varsity team could have turned me sour towards continuing playing a sport that I truly enjoyed playing. Instead, I chose to use determination and set a goal of improving and not giving up. I had a vision and put in the work and held myself accountable to make sure I was doing what I needed to do to get better. That paid off with making my varsity team and becoming a starter. The journey did not stop there.
Once I graduated high school, the desire to play college basketball was fueled for me. The university where I attended had open try-outs. Although I was not the most gifted athlete by any means, I relied heavily on my work ethic, attitude and being a team player to put me in a position to make the team. I was able to earn a spot on the team after two intense days of tryouts. It was a true testament to setting a goal and putting worth the values you know you need to do to achieve that goal.
The lessons that I learned through the process of being cut, making teams and earning my spot, are now what I hope to share and instill in the athletes and students that I get to work with. It is important for us to teach our students and athletes how to respond through adversity and this is a great example to unpack for them. I want them to understand that even through a failed attempt a lot of growth can come from it.
Coaching Context
I currently coach at Pope High School, located in Marietta, Georgia, a member of the GHSA 5A classification. I work with both the junior varsity and varsity boys basketball teams. Our program is made up 24 athletes, with ages ranged between 15 and 18, representing a diverse mix of backgrounds and different skill levels. The coaching staff from both levels consist of five coaches, all of whom have been coaching at least 10 years of experience ranging from high school and/or collegiate level.
As the Junior Varsity Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach, my responsibility is to ensure that there is an alignment within our program and that the mission and vision is consistently upheld at all levels. The environment within the program is one that is structured and supportive in all ways. It emphasizes not just athletic performance and development but also academic responsibility and character development. The program is rooted upon our foundational values of relationships, hard work and accountability.