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 Crestwood’s TJ Henderson, who is in seventh year teaching at Crestwood and fourth year as the Red Devils’ girls basketball head coach.

• How many years have you been a teacher?: 12 years.
• Classes taught?: Health and Physical Education and an Intervention Specialist.
• What made you want to become an educator?: My decision to become an educator was deeply influenced by my dad. Growing up, I watched him excel as both a teacher and a coach — and his dedication inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a similar impact. I wanted to provide my family and future children with the same supportive and enriching environment that shaped me. The opportunity to connect with students and guide them in various aspects of their lives truly resonated with me. As both a teacher and a coach, I am passionate about empowering young minds, helping them grow and taking pride in seeing the lessons I spread make a meaningful difference.
• What is your favorite part of your job?: My favorite part of my job is building meaningful connections with students. I love helping them discover their strengths and guiding them toward success, no matter their abilities or challenges. Seeing their growth and achievements is what makes my work so rewarding.
• What have you learned about being an educator that you didn’t know before you started?: Before becoming an educator, I was drawn to the idea of being a coach. Over time, I realized that teaching and coaching are deeply connected — they both involve guiding, motivating and inspiring kids to develop their potential talents. I often talk about how I coach in the classroom and teach on the hardwood because, at their core, both roles are about fostering growth, discipline and a love for learning. Education is just another arena where students need encouragement and direction to master new skills and reach their full potential.
• Which teachers influenced you to go into education?: My dad (Tom Henderson), Matt Ridgeway, Dan Kukura, Tiger Laverde and John Valentic.
• How do you apply some of your coaching to the classroom?: I bring my coaching philosophy into the classroom by prioritizing relationships. Just like in sports, I ensure my students know that I am there to support and guide them every step of the way, while emphasizing the importance of hard work and effort. Building strong connections with students can be one of the most challenging aspects of teaching, but it’s also the most impactful. When students feel valued and supported, they are far more likely to push themselves, overcome obstacles and achieve success.
• How do you apply some of your classroom to your coaching?: Many of the skills I’ve developed in the classroom have directly influenced my coaching, especially my experience as an Intervention Specialist. Working closely with students to tailor instruction and support their individual needs has taught me the importance of personalized approaches — something I now apply to coaching as well. Just like in the classroom, I’ve learned that every athlete processes information differently and is motivated in their own way. This realization hasn’t changed my expectations or standards, but it has shaped the way I communicate, motivate and support each athlete. At the end of the day, I see them as individuals first and athletes second, ensuring they feel valued both on and off the court.
• Funniest thing that has ever happened to you in a classroom?: It’s hard to pick just one funniest moment because, over the years, I could easily fill a book with all the hilarious things students have said, done or implied. Every day brings something new, and I find myself laughing constantly. My students know I love to joke around and they never miss an opportunity to join in with their own humor and silly antics. It’s one of the best parts of the job!
• Mentors in your building who have helped you along the way?: Some of the mentors who have had the greatest impact on me in my current building are Eddie Judd, Matt Newshutz and Megan Feaster. Each of them has played a key role in my growth as an educator in different ways. Eddie and Matt, both math teachers, have a gift for finding the bright side in every situation and making work genuinely enjoyable. Over time, they’ve become not just colleagues, but great friends outside of school as well. Megan, an Intervention Specialist, was my roommate for two years, and in that time, we shared countless moments — venting, laughing and supporting each other through the ups and downs of teaching. She helped me realize just how much educators rely on one another, and I am grateful for the sense of camaraderie and encouragement they’ve all provided.