Athletic Summit Brings District Rivals Together

Lt. Gov. Coleman Encourages Coaches to Believe in Their Students

About 250 coaches and athletic directors from our middle and high schools gathered for the inaugural Athletic Summit in Fayette County Public Schools. The theme of the June 23 event? “Set the Standard / Unify / Succeed: Aligning Our Athletic Vision.” 

In support of this goal, keynote speaker Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman shared a bit of her own story. “I know the hours you put in and how rewarding it can be,” she told the crowd in the auditorium at host Tates Creek High School. 

She recalled her experience as a classroom teacher and girls basketball coach – noting how both roles shaped her values of discipline, attention to detail, and teamwork. Those skills were crucial when 14-year-old Emma came into her life – and into her family’s home, where the teen finally found acceptance and stable support. 

“I felt like she had potential,” said Coleman, who along with fellow teachers, helped Emma catch up academically and made sure she put in the work in sports. “For the first time in her life, she had people who believed in her,” added Coleman, who eventually adopted Emma with husband Chris as part of their blended family. 

Emma, who couldn’t read as a high school freshman, went on to graduate with honors and then played Division I basketball at Texas A&M. She later went back to school for another degree and now serves in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps. 

Coleman reminded the FCPS staff that Emma’s story is not unique – they all know such young people in their schools. The key, she said, is recognizing their worth and potential. “The next generation is always looking to us for help, for support, and for someone to believe in them,” Coleman said. 

Acting Superintendent Bill Bradford agreed. “Extracurricular activities are truly a pathway for student engagement,” he said, urging the coaches and ADs to provide individual attention whenever possible. “You have a lot of student-athletes looking to you, and there’s power in your words. … Sometimes we don’t know our potential until someone tells us,” said Bradford, who recounted how the diving coach at Transylvania University mentored him. 

Two members of the Fayette County Board of Education – Amy Green and Amanda Ferguson – also attended the summit. Ferguson, who played softball at Henry Clay High and later coached her daughter’s volleyball team at Winburn Middle, appreciated FCPS organizing the summer event. “In sports, students are connected in small groups, and the more coaches and administrators are connected, the stronger their support system,” said Ferguson, who played field hockey, softball, and basketball at Transy.  

District AD Jackie Gordon Duvall spearheaded the all-day conference, which provided a range of professional learning and networking opportunities for staff. Breakout sessions covered such topics as Injury Prevention & Nutrition for Student-Athletes, Building the Modern Student-Athlete, and Mental Health: Building Cultures and Environments Where Student-Athletes Thrive. Other options included CPR and First Aid Training, a review of Title IX requirements, and much more. The afternoon’s special guest was veteran educator Roger Cleveland, who spoke on Purpose, Perspective, & Perception: A Viable Approach to a Winning Program. 

“Get what you need,” Gordon Duvall said in the morning’s introduction, when she urged the participants to take advantage of this chance to build community with their districtwide rivals.