Managing Both Coaching and Teaching

Juggling both teaching and coaching is a challenge that not many teachers can say they do; however, educator Juan Guajardo manages both daily. Being a PE coach in the morning, a health teacher in the afternoon, and an athletics coach, Guajardo does it all. 

While coaching wasn’t Guajardo’s first pathway, he has come to love what he does. He started out wanting to become an art teacher but took a position as an assistant teacher. Guajardo now has a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in English. 

“Before I became a coach, I was an English teacher, and then I got the opportunity to be a health and PE coach,” Guajardo said.  “This is where I have been, and I love it. I try to take care of the kids as much as possible.”

Guajardo was inspired to choose teaching as his career path because it provides him with both of his passions: education and sports. Coaching is teaching, and both go hand in hand. 

“This is a good job for me because I get to mentor kids and coach sports that I love,” Guajardo said. “Teaching just came as a bundle.”

Out of Guajardo’s 19 years of teaching, he has taught at Jimmy Carter for 11 of those years. Guajardo mentioned that Jimmy Carter’s environment built strong relationships with both students and fellow teachers. 

“This is where I have been, and I love it. I try to take care of the kids as much as possible,” Guajardo said. 

Being an educator does come with its ups and downs, including talking to students and creating a safe environment. Guajardo mentioned that he tries his best to talk to students at their level to create trust and respect. 

“I think that they respond well, and they all have respect for me,” Guajardo said. 

Other challenges that coaches often face are motivating students and encouraging them to participate. Guajardo wants kids to be able to reach their full potential while always having fun with sports and learning. 

“As a coach, it’s challenging, motivating kids that might not see themselves as really good in a sport and encouraging them to do things,” Guajardo said. 

One of the most rewarding moments for Guajardo was being named teacher of the year two years ago. Guajardo mentioned that PE coaches aren’t typically the kind of educator that gets selected for teacher of the year and that he was very grateful to have received that title. 

“Well, two years ago, I was named teacher of the year, and I was surprised since PE coaches don’t usually get teacher of the year,” Guajardo said. “I had never gotten teacher of the year, so it meant a lot.” 

Educators should always strive to be there for their students and try to help them learn and grow. Guajardo’s advice to fellow teachers is to do their jobs, be themselves, and be patient. 

“Kids are changing, and we have to adjust to their style at times,” Guajardo said.