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 Mogadore High School’s Jessica Butler, who is an Intervention Specialist and is the volleyball coach for the Wildcats.

• How long have you been employed at Mogadore?: 27 years.
• Classes taught?: Intervention Specialist for Kindergarten through Third Grade.
• What made you want to become an educator?: In seventh grade, I had a tutor named Mrs. Johnson, who truly changed my life. Through her patience, encouragement and belief in me, she helped me find the confidence I didn’t know I had. Her impact on my life was profound and lasting.
• What is your favorite part of your job?: Two areas of my job are my favorites. First, there are the kids, with their humor and quick wit that brings so much joy to my day and makes my job incredibly rewarding. The second area is that I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by peers, who are not only hardworking and driven but also bring humor and a lighthearted perspective to life.
• What have you learned about being an educator that you didn’t know before you started?: One thing I’ve learned about being an educator is how much the role goes beyond just teaching academic skills. As educators, we play a crucial role in supporting students emotionally and socially, often acting as mentors, counselors and advocates.
• Which teachers influenced you to go into education?: Mrs. Johnson was my biggest influence. I had always struggled with reading, and it often felt frustrating and discouraging. But Mrs. Johnson made learning enjoyable in a way I had never experienced. Her patience, encouragement, and creative approach helped me build confidence in my reading skills, and she made me believe in my own potential. Thanks to her, I not only improved academically but also developed a love for learning that still stays with me today.
• How do you apply some of your coaching to the classroom?: I share with my students that the more you practice reading, the better you will become at that skill. Becoming a high-performing athlete takes years of dedication, drive, and repetition. Many athletes put in over 10,000 hours of focused practice before they reach the top of their sport. It’s about showing up, working hard, and constantly improving. The same is true for reading. The more you practice, the better you get. Every book, article, or story you read builds your skills, just like every hour of training builds an athlete.
• Funniest thing that has ever happened to you in your classroom?: There have been many funny stories that happened in my classroom. The one I like to share is about a student who finished his work and earned a sticker as a reward. I had him pick a sticker from a sticker sheet that featured various dogs. This student looked at the sheet of dog stickers and said, “I would like the blind dog.” I was confused because, even though I was an Intervention specialist, I did not give him a sheet of dog stickers with multiple disabilities. I asked him if he could show me the sticker, and he pointed to the sheepdog that had excess fur covering its eyes. He said, “Right there, Mrs. Butler!” I understand it now!
• Mentors in your building who have helped you along the way?: Early in my career, I had a principal, Ms. Langell, who genuinely helped me develop leadership skills and did an excellent job guiding me through challenging situations. She was supportive and set a good example. She is one of the reasons why I am pursuing my master’s in administration. Her mentorship continues to influence the way I approach challenges and support others in my professional journey. I had the privilege of team-teaching with Mrs. Morckel, a truly remarkable educator and colleague. For many years, she dedicated herself to teaching kindergarten, and later chose to spend the final chapter of her career inspiring second-grade students. Mrs. Morckel was not only an excellent teacher but also a compassionate and supportive presence. She always took the time to listen, offered thoughtful advice, and shared words of encouragement when they were most needed. I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked alongside her and to have learned from her example.