Teacher of the Year Comments about Early Morning Workouts

This is an email that Chris Floyd sent to Bret Daghe last week. With her permission, I wanted to share it with you. Chris Floyd, former Teacher of the Year in the BCSC, arrives early and stays late. She always does extra. Without a doubt, she strives to be the best of the best in the classroom, and most days she is the BEST in the classroom.

Her observations below mean much because in our workouts we are trying to do more than just make our players better basketball players - we want to make them better people and better leaders. Enjoy these compliments. Then, well, Coach Walter and I hope to see you Thursday morning at 5:30 a.m. as we continue to develop our young men into better people and players.

>>> Chris Floyd 9/8/2009 6:41 AM >>>
Greetings:
This morning, as I do every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I enjoyed a cup of coffee, watching the young men working toward the basketball team, practice in the main gym.
Sometimes we look for our leaders in the most obvious places - those with a loud voice, those who are seen and heard, those who take charge in the most visible situations. Sometimes, there is a silent leadership, that is seen but not heard. Sometimes, a wonderful thing happens - and leadership is fostered, encouraged and shared. This is what I have seen with these young men.
Coach Kendrick leads with a silent hand (because of ISHAA!),but he doesn't even have to lead. Stepping up to work with the others, is a series of players. They teach, they encourage, they mentor - they work with all of those characteristics that we value in student leaders. Right now, all of them are equal, as the team has not been decided, and all of them have every opportunity to step up - step forward, and make a difference.

In a very short time period, I have gained more respect for some of these players, many of whom I have had in the classroom as students. They each bring something different to the court, and it is wonderful to see them playing toward their strengths, and working to strengthen their weaknesses. I don't know if they quite realize what is going on with themselves right now, but the potential for every one of them to be a leader is right there.

It comforts me to know that we do have students who are taking the lead, in so many ways. When its all said and done, what we do with these students in the classroom, is reflected in their behavior on the court. That's why its so important to reach each one individually. Because as individuals - while they have strengths - they stand alone. As a team, they have the strength of all together, and the collective knowledge - drive - heart - and respect.

I've never coached (for real anyway!), and I've never been able to experience this before. I thank Coach Kendrick for inviting me down there - because this is one of the best learning experiences I've had in a while!
Just wanted to share....
Chris C. Floyd
Project Lead the Way Instructor
Brownsburg High School
cfloyd@brownsburg.k12.in.us
http://staffweb.brownsburg.k12.in.us/~cfloyd/gtt