Southeas High School teacher and track and field coach Melinda Furr (back row, center) stands with her Women’s Fitness class.

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 classroom and hallways leading today’s student-athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today’s spotlight is on Southeast girls track and field coach Melinda Furr, who is in her 20th year of teaching and sixth year as the Pirates’ coach.

• How long have you been a teacher?: 20 years total and 15 years at Southeast.
• Classes taught?: High School Physical Education; Wellness Course, Care Class and Women’s Fitness.
• What made you want to become an educator?: My dad was a teacher and both of my parents were coaches. The influences and positive impact they had on others was powerful. They inspired me to give back and share in that same excitement of helping others.
• What is your favorite part of your job?: I absolutely enjoy seeing students mature over the course of four years in high school. It’s such a cool experience to see them enter high school as a freshman, unsure of who they are, and what they want to become. Then, over the course of four years, they mature, grow and really develop into their own. Really awesome to be a part of that maturation process.
• What have you learned about being an educator that you didn’t know before you started?: I think as young educators, we all start out and want to be perfect. We strive to make an impact on every single kid and have a perfect mindset doing so. However, over the years, you live and learn from your mistakes and grow as an individual. With this wisdom, it helps make you a better person, and in turn, become a better version for your students as well.
• Which teachers influenced you to go into education?: My Dad, Bob Hamilton. He is a retired 5th Grade Science teacher at Waterloo. He’s the epitome of a passionate teacher, who cared about every single student and worked so hard to encourage them to reach their full potential.
• How do you apply some of your coaching to the classroom?: I really try to encourage students with positivity and enthusiasm. Be realistic, authentic and honest. Teach them to believe in themselves and give maximum effort in everything that they do.
• How do you apply some of your classroom to your coaching?: Teaching student-athletes life lessons and making real-world connections. Embrace hard work, have self discipline and learn to deal with discomfort and struggles as they reach their longterm goals.
• Funniest thing that has ever happened in your classroom?: I attempt to keep up with the everchanging lingo of the students. When students use certain words like bro, sigma or aura, I love responding in conversation. They would probably call it cringe because I’m too old, but it always makes for a laugh.
• Mentors in your building who have helped you along the way?: Becky Dunn has been a great mentor and friend in both the classroom and coaching. I’m grateful for her years of wisdom and leadership in the classroom, and I’m blessed to coach alongside her in track and field. We work really well together and really strive to use our individual strengths to make for the best environment for our athletes.