Who I am and my why!

My name is Humberto Guevara, but a lot of people know me as Coach G. I am a son, husband, father, educator, and coach. I have spent the last 20+ years teaching and coaching different sports and different levels. I came to the United States over 40 years ago from El Salvador. I have lived in five different states but I currently call South Carolina my home. I am married with two kids that are starting their own sports journey's. I have taught at the middle school and high level as a social studies and special education teacher. The last 15 years have been in special education. Now my why.

Over the last 15 years as a teacher I have seen education evolve into an entity I am not a fan of. I have seen the focus change multiple times based on testing data. I agree we need to change and update/upgrade teaching practices and philosophies but all the changes have come at the cost of the well-being of teachers. Every year school districts implement the latest trend or idea to improve student performance. There's nothing wrong with that except they are still implementing the last 15 trends and ideas from the previous years. All of this leads to confusion for teachers, parents, and students. It leads to increased paperwork, meetings, and decreased time planning and prepping. How does this impact teachers? Teachers are leaving the profession by the thousands every year around the country. I left education due to burnout and the lack of appreciation and I don't know if I will ever return. Unfortunately we live in a world, if a teacher tries to defend themselves they are being selfish and not thinking about the kids. In reality, that is why we are defending ourselves, we are thinking about the kids and our own well-being.

I have been coaching longer than I have been teaching. I got into teaching because of coaching. I have coached boys, girls, softball, baseball, track and field, soccer, football, and volleyball. I have coached middle school, high school, rec, and travel/club sports. I have coached kids from the ages of 8-18. I have coached kids who have gone on to play in college. But last year I decided to leave school sports and I don't know if I will ever go back. I'm not scared of the parent could come after me with a Stanley or Hydro Flask tumbler/cup. I am scared of the parent who comes after me passively by trying to get me fired/removed by spreading a narrative based on lies, rumors, and defaming comments. Again, unfortunately we live in a world where coaches cannot defend themselves because we are only thinking about ourselves and not our players.

Here lies my why. Why am I doing this? I feel I have a responsibility to help my fellow educators and coaches. Everyday teachers and coaches deal with so much at the cost of their well-being and mental health. But no one thinks about that besides other teachers, coaches, and administrators/directors. For most of them, their hands are tied on what they can and cannot say.

I am here to speak about my insights, opinions, and experiences as an educator and coach. Some post maybe educational or insightful, and others may be controversial. But in the end, these are my thoughts, opinions, insights into what led me to leave education and coaching school sports after 20+ years. And at this point I don't know if I will return.