Coach Terry is a new PE and basketball coach at Chamblee High School. But he has been with the Chamblee community for about 14 years already. For the past 13 years, he has been coaching at the middle school. He enjoys working at school because every day is a new day and something different always happens.
“Working at a school is something new every day, different challenges, but it’s fun. It’s interesting, you know? Never gets old,” Terry said recently.
Part of those new challenges is that high schoolers are very different from middle school students in a lot of ways. Terry is ready to take on the challenges this change may pose.
“Transitioning from middle school to high school is gonna be a different challenge. But I think I like working with older kids,” said Terry.
In addition, he has always dreamed of coaching varsity basketball in high school.
“The challenge of leading the varsity basketball team is something that I’ve always wanted to do. So when the opportunity came up, I felt like I couldn’t pass it up,” said Terry.
According to Terry, CHS has not changed much over the years. He believes it has always been a good school at its core.
“Chamblee has changed a little bit, but I feel like Chamblee is always gonna be the same with the community support and with the kids always being very intellectual, very smart, understanding and caring about one another. So I feel like Chamblee has changed a little, but I think that may be because I’m moving up in my career a little bit. I feel like Chamblee’s core values will always be a thrill,” said Terry.
Changes come with every school year, no matter the position a student or teacher is in, so Terry is ready to take on what comes.
“I expect changes that come with every year. I feel like changes are good though. So I feel like a good change and growth is what I expect,” said Terry.
This school year, the gym staff is enforcing students dressing out and wearing gym clothes. Although this policy is designed to improve underclassmen’s discipline, seniors are also required to dress out. In order to dress out, students must buy the school’s gym clothes. Although some students are against this, Terry understands it as an important part of discipline.
“I’m for it, but I’m not for it in terms of making things more difficult. I’m for it to make sure everybody kind of knows the expectations,” said Terry. “I feel like when you’re in a different uniform or different dress, it puts you in a different mindset versus being in what you wore to school, from home, and wearing that back home. I think that puts like a laid back [attitude] towards P.E. I feel like dressing up is good for teachers and students.”
His plans for for his classes this year are intended to be fun. Terry is a passionate coach and enjoys creating a curriculum the students will be happy with.
“To be honest, I want to have a lot of fun. I want students to actually learn the content that we’re doing but to also have fun, especially in PE or with myself in general,” said Terry. “I’m not a very serious type of person. I want understanding and respect to be there, but I want to have fun, learn, and enjoy each other.”