My Next Chapter

Almost 10 years ago, I decided to help make a difference in kids’ lives by becoming both a teacher and coach. During this time, I became the Head Wrestling Coach while still being the Head Freshman Football coach, the Assistant Baseball Coach, and teaching at the high school level.

Having my head in the game and in the classroom, I was able to help kids along a path that included Fundamentals (School, Life, Athletics), Accountability, Structure, and Fun. An old teacher of mine once said that “If I can help a kid learn something they didn’t know at the beginning of class, I’m doing my job.” I had followed that mantra every day of my teaching career.

Unfortunately, my health wouldn’t allow me to keep up with the position’s paces and demands.

With my doctor’s and family’s advice, I needed to make changes to ensure a longer life span. Unfortunately, that meant I needed to leave the classroom and field behind.

It was soul-crushing for my students and me. I worked so hard to be in a position where I felt like I fit, and it was gone in a blink of an eye. What was I supposed to do now? How was I supposed to support my family? I have reinvented myself over the years; however, I did not want to give up on what I was meant to do: to educate and coach kids.

It took a few weeks of searching, but I met someone who told me I could still help students and educators alike. Don Royal, COO/CFO of Bright Thinker, had me realize that I can still be part of the solution by helping schools find the right curriculum for their students. So, I took my prior platform selling experience and combined it with my educational background with a passion for helping kids and joined the Bright Thinker team!

With the help of my doctors and a healthy work-life balance, my personal well-being has improved dramatically. Thanks to Bright Thinker, I am, now, an Educational Sales Consultant providing curriculum solutions for the classroom!

Don’t get me wrong, I still miss the classroom, the kids, and the field, but sometimes, you may need to adjust your course to still be able to do what you love to do.