By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The “Coaches in the Classroom” feature is a weekly series that spotlights and celebrates coaches throughout Portage County, who spend their days in the classrooms and hallways leading today’s student-athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today’s spotlight is on 19-year Kent Roosevelt girls basketball coach Craig Foreman, who is also in his 25th year as a teacher in the Kent City School District.

• Classes taught?: United States History, World History, Sociology, Director of The Expedition Academy.
• What made you want to become an educator?: I enjoyed my time in high school, and I always had a passion for questioning and researching while growing up. I wanted to pass that along.
• What is your favorite part of your job?: As far as coaching goes, the competition and the family environment we have within our program. As far as teaching, the moments when you see students truly learning and caring about their work.
• What have you learned about being an educator that you didn’t know before you started?: When you first go into education, you really do not understand that if you stay in this world long enough, you truly reach a ton of students. And then those students grow up and become your colleagues, peers and friends. So, therefore, no matter what “data driven initiative” or “new way of approaching education” comes along, in the end, relationships matter the most and will bring out the best education.
• Which teachers influenced you to go into education?: My Mom was in education, and I always admired that as a young kid. As I went through high school, I remember a few teachers who stuck out that had an influence on me and gave me the idea that it could be for me. However, it was not until college at Ohio University where I was taught by Professor Mohammad, who really influenced me in terms of the importance of critical thinking and relationships that inspired me to be the teacher I am today — and to remain that way.
• How do you apply some of your coaching to the classroom? Classroom to your coaching?: For people who know me as a teacher and those who know me as a coach, many times they are shocked to see me in those different roles with different behaviors. However, I hope there is a common link they see in both. I truly care about them as people and not just my students and my players. Yes, the outcome is a basketball game and, yes, the outcome is a report-card grade, but both realms bring out so much in terms of life lessons and things that mean more than a 3-pointer or a vocab word.
• Funniest thing that has ever happened to you in a classroom?: Teaching for as long as I have, there are too many events to count. Life is funny and so is the classroom. I think humor is an amazing helper to all things.
• Mentors in your building who have helped you along the way?: I can think of two immediately. One is Larry Picicco. Larry was my assigned mentor teacher when I was hired, but since then, we work with each other daily and are great friends. He is an awesome role model, awesome educator and truly someone who has guided me along the way. The second person, although we were hired in the same year, would have to be my wife Kelly Foreman. I learn so much from her every day about teaching and relating to students. People who care and know, realize that TRHS would almost shut down without her with all she does for the kids and the atmosphere. She is always helping, always involved and always there when needed. Although she deserves more praise and recognition for this, she never seeks it and that is another trait that I admire. And, somehow, she does all of it with passion and a smile — always. I guess you could say I am one lucky guy.