TODAY, COACHES play a crucial role in helping their students find their footing in the physical education realm. As a coach, you play various roles, from being a teacher to a cheerleader, mentor, and motivator all at once. One of the fundamental principles of any career path is building relationships. Jayden Reno, a physical education (PE) teacher at Hillsboro Elementary School, understands the important role coaches and teachers play in their students’ development — on and off the court.
Reno is different from your typical PE teacher. Sure, he loves sports and the energy it brings, but for him, PE is about building “champions” in the truest sense of the word.
“I am fortunate to have every single one of our students at Hillsboro in class,” he began. “Learning about them and their interests helps build that relationship to push and encourage them to try new sports and give their full effort to trying new things.”
Reno’s love for sports comes from his experiences as a young student-athlete. On the field, he learned many valuable lessons, such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance. Now, in the gym at Hillsboro, he strives to share these same values with his students.
“I love seeing how my students grow and develop as athletes, watching them accomplish things they never thought they could,” he said.
Champions come in all shapes and sizes. “Everyone’s ‘best’ looks different,” he said. Reno understands that not every student will be a “star athlete.” Whether it’s a student completely new to a sport or someone naturally gifted, Reno has created a safe space for his students and encourages them to push personal boundaries and celebrate individual victories.
For Reno, the word “champion” means many different things to different people. His definition of a champion for student-athletes is “a young person who is able to work with a group of individuals to accomplish a common goal.” In his eyes, setting aside differences and opinions and working together to accomplish a common goal while competing and going above and beyond expectations academically and athletically defines a true champion.
When it comes to challenges, Reno embraces the opportunity to help his students discover what truly inspires them to get up and get moving.
“Every student is different, and finding what motivates them to be active is a different journey for each one. Whether it be playing a sport they are already interested in, talking about the health benefits of living a healthy lifestyle or finding stories of other athletes they can relate to, I always look forward to this challenge every year.”
In sports, only some calls, games, or seasons will turn out the way the athlete would like it to. However, Reno emphasizes to his students that their response to those unfavorable calls or bad plays impacts those around them.
“If you win, you don’t brag and act like you’ve been there before. If you lose, you just have to understand you did all you could and put it behind you and get ready for the next one.”
Reno sees physical education as a cornerstone of a well-rounded education. It teaches students valuable life skills like collaboration, problem-solving, and the importance of taking care of their bodies. Building relationships is another crucial component of Reno’s approach to teaching. He leads by example, building solid and dependable relationships with his students. In getting to know his students and their interests, he can tailor his classes to spark their curiosity and keep them engaged.
Reno cherishes the opportunity to see his former students thrive in middle school athletics as a direct reflection of the confidence and skills they gained in his PE class. “It is always such a rewarding experience to see how they’ve grown.”
One previous student’s success reflects Reno’s influence. Once reluctant to play volleyball, she soon discovered her passion for the game, thanks to Reno’s encouragement. Now, she’s a middle school volleyball player. Reno has also had students go on to middle school to make basketball, football, volleyball, and cheer teams.
Inspired by his own coaches and mentors, Reno strives to be a positive influence in his students’ lives. He wants them to carry the lessons of perseverance and sportsmanship beyond the classroom and into their futures as successful individuals.
“I have also had so many great mentors in my teaching career. Those people have helped inspire me to be the best teacher I can be. They have encouraged me to continue to show up every day and help create the best learning environment I can. I owe so much credit to those people.”
Reno’s future goal is to continue building a program that celebrates effort over outcome. He wants his students to know that showing up and giving their all is key to success, both in the gym and in life. He is a champion maker, building confidence and perseverance one student at a time.
“I like to think that I have built an environment that they are comfortable enough to give their best effort in, and build supportive relationships with. It’s my goal to show up and try to be a better teacher/coach than I was the day before. If I can continue to do that, every day will be a day I enjoy coming to work.” GN
