Let’s start with this:
Winning a fight against your Superintendent and School Board is impossible. They always come out victorious in "coach battles".
I want to make it clear that I am not suggesting that District Administrators have negative intentions towards athletics or that School Board members are against successful academic sports programs. I personally respect my current Superintendent. I love my building Principal and Athletic Director.
Let's acknowledge the reality here: the difference between a coach's view of winning and an administrator's view of winning. Coaches are fully dedicated to pursuing victories in one capacity, while administrators are engaged in distinct battles. They are tasked with maintaining academic excellence across diverse demographics and factors. Nowadays, educators and school administrators resemble property and casualty insurance agents. Rarely do insurance agents receive appreciation when clients receive a premium increase, as it ensures their coverage remains reliable for their vehicles and homes. District administrators are always resolving issues, addressing concerns, and meeting the diverse needs and desires of faculty, staff, parents, and students. As coaches, it's crucial for us to recognize the immense challenges faced by modern-day school administrators. I can attest to this, as I am married to one (a middle school principal).
Being upset at 3:00 pm with our school administrators because a teacher is requiring one of our players to retake an exam after school, causing him to miss the beginning of practice, shows a lack of perspective. The school administrator in question may have already dealt with three upset parents that day and had to address 125 urgent emails. As coaches, we must understand that school district administrators frequently dedicate more time to handling faculty and staff matters than student issues. As teachers, we can be squeaky wheels at times.
Nevertheless, Administrators tend to overlook a crucial aspect concerning their coaches. Some coaches, particularly in football and basketball programs at various schools, may excel as educators but risk losing their job if they fail to achieve sufficient victories. It is common for coaches to be recruited based on their athletic prowess before they are even considered for a specific teaching role, highlighting administrative inconsistency. Administrators need to acknowledge that it is rare for 1500 community members to gather to listen to a history teacher discuss the origins of The First World War. Conversely, every Friday night, a coach and their team draw such a crowd. The pressure to perform on the sports field is much different than the pressure to excel in instructing the usage of punctuation marks. Administrators frequently experience this pressure through complaints from parents and community stakeholders via email, text and voicemail, and awkward run-ins at the grocery store, eventually reaching a point where action is deemed necessary.
By 2024, high school coaches are not expected to stay in one job for an extended period. This trend is paralleled by the decreasing longevity of school administrators. Public education is frequently shaped by legislation that is a response to litigation. When a lawsuit occurs, new laws or regulations are enacted to prevent similar lawsuits in the future. Over time, this has empowered parents to take action against schools and coaches. While coaches may be aware of this dynamic, it is essential to respond wisely. Don’t be surprised if it seems that administrative covering of the gluteus maximus is noticeable. It is foolish for a coach to think that an administrator will take the fall for him or her, much less adamantly support a coach that is not receiving the same level of support from a District superior's. It is not wise not to place them in a situation that demands choosing their job or yours. I’ve been there.
What should we do next? Here are some factors for coaches to take into account:
Avoid mishandling money as it can lead to dismissal by your superiors. Ensure to appoint a reliable Booster treasurer and adhere to the guidelines for school budget accounts, such as purchase orders and invoices. By following these rules, you can streamline the process of meeting your program's financial requirements and make your administration's job smoother.
The Mantra of a coach’s social media.
Do not post anything that your Superintendent would not understand or approve of.
Your political and social views are of no concern to anyone. While you have the right to express your opinion, it is the responsibility of your administrators to address any division, gossip, or fallout resulting from your freedom of expression.
Emphasize positivity by praising your school, team, players, and community. Even in challenging times, focus on the good aspects and magnify them.
Engaging with comments on a social media post is akin to creating an original post. Avoid getting into arguments with uncooperative individuals. As a coach, you may encounter individuals who criticize you from behind a screen and keyboard at their kitchen table without having as much at risk as you do. Understand that outsiders have more liberty to share their opinions than you do to respond. If unsure, it's advisable to wait until the next day and seek guidance from your AD or Principal before participating in a social media conversation.
Be cautious with your language when speaking to students and discussing certain topics, as they can easily be misinterpreted when taken out of context. This advice also applies to your interactions with parents.
Focus on fulfilling your true role as a teacher, even if, like me, you may sometimes falter in tasks such as paperwork. As a special educator, my aim for the 2024-2025 school year is to excel in managing special education documentation. When faced with challenges from external sources questioning your competence as a coach, having a solid foundation in teaching can provide you with stability and credibility in your profession. Remember, a high school coach stands on two legs, one as a coach and one as a teacher. You can only hop on one leg for so long.
Parents play a dual role as both the issue and the resolution. It is crucial for parents to have faith in the coach, who in turn must be reliable. This topic warrants its own dedicated blog post, but it is essential to grasp this reality: a parent's affection for their child will always exceed their attachment to the team, just as a coach's devotion to the team will surpass their love for any individual child. This divide is insurmountable. Parents think they have the right to petition a school district’s leader for change or to file complaints and indeed they do. Stay ahead of this, acting is more advisable than reacting when your district administration is involved with your team’s parents. Communicate with parents early, often, and concisely as much as possible.
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