By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Portage Sports proudly introduces its new series called “Coaches in the Classroom.”

The series will celebrate coaches throughout Portage County who spend their days in the classroom leading today’s student-athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today’s spotlight is for Garfield High School’s Mike Moser, who is in his 24th year as a football coach for the G-Men and is also an eighth grade social studies, financial literacy and leadership teacher.

• School district: James A. Garfield.
• How long have you been employed there: 17 years as a teacher and 24 years as a coach.
• What classes do you teach: Eighth grade social studies, financial literacy and leadership.
• What made you want to become an educator: I enjoy helping people and working with children.
• What is your favorite part of the job: When students tell you that you helped change their minds and attitude about history. In a positive way.
• What have you learned about being an educator that you didn’t know before you started: It is amazing how many relationships and friends you make and keep over the years.
• Which teachers influenced you to go into education: Several teachers and coaches influenced me, including Dave Dubinsky, Dave Clegg, Larry Benson, Jack Bair and Tom Heaton.
• How do you apply some of your coaching into your classroom: In both coaching, as well as teaching, I believe in keeping the expectations high.
• How do you apply some of your classroom into your coaching: Kids/athletes learn differently, so you have to be able to adapt and sometimes change the way you are presenting the information.
• What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in a classroom: When some students dressed up as me for a Halloween game.
• Mentors in your building who have helped you along the way: Lori Morgan. She is an incredible teacher and was also a very successful coach.