Monday, September 16, 2024
AZLE — During the final week of July, Azle ISD coaches spent their days preparing for a new school year. Coinciding with the final day of new teacher orientation, July 31, coaches attended a convocation for athletic department staff.
During the program-wide meeting, Azle ISD Athletic Director Michael Sain discussed issues like the year’s heat plan, new developments and communication expectations between the district and University Interscholastic League’s chain of command. Near the end of the day’s activities, Sain introduced the district’s Executive Director of Educational Leadership Jessica Hanson to give a few words of encouragement to this year’s coaches and talk about becoming a “destination district.” Hanson spoke about her high school’s basketball coach and eventual employer, Ron Shelton, and the impact he had on her life.
Hanson also listed takeaways from motivational speakers and authors that she recommended to the audience. Among the ideas presented were loving your job, giving everything your all and the Jon Gordon quote, “if you're complaining you're not leading.”
“He says complaining is a lot like throwing up,” Hanson recalled. “You feel better, but everyone else around you feels sick. What we know about complaining is it's always best to take complaints to the person that can do something about it. So, complaining to other people, it just (makes you the) energy vampires in the room, right? If you want something changed, find the solution and go to the person that can change it.”
After lunch and these talks, convocation concluded with three staff members being named coaches of the year.
