As many of you probably know by now, Enumclaw High School has hired a new football coach. What most of you probably don’t know, however, is the significant impact that hire had on another staff member. I believe it is only fair for the citizens of Enumclaw, and the students at EHS, to know the full story.

First of all, please understand that this letter is not intended to be a “bashing” or “gripe” session. As an EHS grad, multi-sport athlete and a passionate football fan, I am excited for the possibilities that lie ahead for the football program. In fact, I believe the new football coach will create a new and exciting atmosphere and I wish him only the best. However, I am a firm believer that preferential treatment for one individual and unjust treatment for another should never be tolerated or accepted.

By now you may be wondering what I am referring to, so let me explain and then you can judge for yourself.

A few months ago, EHS needed a new football coach. Like any other school, they posted the job opening to generate a candidate pool. The key here is that they posted the job as a “football coaching position,” with the possibility of teaching positions opening at a later date.  There was no teaching position attached to the coaching position. Most of the current teachers logically assumed that if a new teacher/coach were to be hired that he would fill in one of the vacant teaching positions in the district, such as history at EHS or physical education at EMS.  Unfortunately this is not what happened.  After the interview process ended, the district personnel hired their football coach based upon who they thought was the best fit as a coach, not based upon who was the best fit as a teacher/coach.

Here is the twist. The district now had to “find” a teaching position for the new coach. The district’s answer was to give this teacher, with the least amount of seniority, one of the most coveted teaching positions, high school P.E. and weight training. The result of this decision was that a current P.E. teacher, who is considered “Highly Qualified,” with 14 years of experience, 10 years at EHS, who had been the department head for nearly five years, who had always received exceptional evaluations from her administration and who is highly respected by the students and parents, was forced to give up her teaching position. The original plan was to move this teacher into a full-time history position, a position where she is not rated as “Highly Qualified,” and has very little teaching experience. After hours of discussion and evaluation, it was finally agreed that this would not be best for student learning and the district offered an alternative option, physical education at the middle school. Even though this is a much more appropriate position for this teacher, it unfortunately means she must leave EHS, a place she has spent the last 10 years striving for excellence, building relationships with kids and parents, and being an exemplary teacher.

With the challenges that today’s schools, educators and students face, the focus of education must remain on doing what is best for students. Let me say it again, focus on what is best for students, not football players or basketball players or band members or any other specific group. Sports are extracurricular activities that teach vital lessons to students, but they are still “extra.” Coaching positions are supplemental jobs that are demanding and challenging, but they are still supplemental positions. Decisions about who is best to teach which topics should not be based upon who will coach which activity or sport.

I was fortunate enough to have great teachers throughout my high school and collegiate years, and I continue to learn from many of them today. One of the greatest lessons I ever learned is that sometimes you have to do what is right even when it’s the hardest thing to do.  There are precious few moments in our lives that will define who we are as a person and a professional. We must embrace those moments and strive to do what is right, simply for the sake of doing what is right. I hope that when those moments are placed before me I have the knowledge to recognize them and the grace and integrity to act accordingly.  These are the lessons we need to continue to teach our students.

Jon Roberts

Buckley