By Charlie Atkinson
BISD Faulk Middle School Coach
I was called by coach (Tom) Chavez to be part of the football program. I'm certified to teach P.E., Health, and Law Enforcement. A law enforcement teacher retired so that is why I got a call. Getting a call from a legend like Tom Chavez is a dream come true. The principal then called me in and advised me that I could volunteer before signing my contract on a Tuesday.
Monday I went in and met with coaches.
They are all great coaches so I was excited to be there. I noticed we had few freshman there so I made calls to get more kids to come in for TWO A DAYS not tutor days. That was funny that Montoya thought it was tutor days.
Anyway at the end of the day I was called by administration HR, who by the way told me I would be heading to Rivera, retracted and said they had jumped the gun. I guess they had to go through a interview process. I was going on a transfer but it was deemed that interviews would have to happen which was fine with me.
After leaving that day I made up my mind to stay at Faulk so I would have time to see my daughter play volleyball. (In the photo above, that's Charlie grinning at the rear right behind the players and coaches).
Coaching football at a high school would have not allowed me to do so. I struggled with it because I left Customs to spend more time with my kids. I coach her on a select team so I get to see her play a lot so I could have taken it or leave it. I appreciate the call I got and will always be grateful that a man like Chavez would consider me.
Coaching football at a high school would have not allowed me to do so. I struggled with it because I left Customs to spend more time with my kids. I coach her on a select team so I get to see her play a lot so I could have taken it or leave it. I appreciate the call I got and will always be grateful that a man like Chavez would consider me.
That's good enough for me.
Look there are law enforcement teachers who have never done law enforcement but have a degree. Then there are law enforcement teachers who don't have a degree and can't pass the trade and industrial 6-12 which is the test you need to pass to get certified. It's all screwed up but I guess it will all get fixed one day. There is a problem with Athletics in Brownsville. ACs at the high school level should be able to work with the principal to move teachers that are in PE and Health positions who don't coach a sport and bust them down to middle school or even elementary.
It sucks that if you are a PE teacher and suck at coaching that the school is stuck with that coach. In Harlingen your PE position is tied with your coaching abilities. If you don't do good or have a decent program then the principal can release you. This is why Harlingen has a good program. It hurts the overall athletic program.
These head coaches have their hands tied because they struggle to get good coaches up there. Rivera is a powerhouse and will improve in the upcoming years. They have a beautiful facility that any coach would love to coach in. People don't realize because of who I am and who my family is that I don't get a break and that is frustrating. I have to have my T's crossed and my I's dotted.
I have been trying to get to Hanna Early College High School for three years and just can't. It sucks but, oh well. I hope Zendejas can change policy to allow head coaches to seek out the coaches they need. We can win at football but we just need to change the attitudes and beliefs. There is no reason why Veterans and Hanna can't make it three or four deep in the playoffs. We have the athletes there for sure as well as at the other high schools.
Look for Lopez to go two or three deep this year. Starky is a great coach. Him and I get along and have never argued about football. We both scratched our heads when Montoya mentioned that we had an exchange of words. The district will get better as long as people put kids first. My sister Sylvia and Zendejas are very smart women who will do awesome things for our district. They have passion and that's a good thing. Passion gets things done and that's why we have been successful at Faulk.
We expect to go undefeated again at the 7th and 8th grade level (at faulk Middle School) to prove we have an established program. I like the pressure. I want middle school coaches to know that I'm aggressive and coming after them. I want to win, I will win, win is the name of the game!!!!!
Trust me it's not me being cocky. It's me being confident along with our coaches in our abilities to bring out the best in these kids. Give a kid hope and treat them like they are your own and they will battle.
This is what Tom Chavez is like and why I would have loved to be learning under him. Nimodo!!! I wish you well my friend.