Physical education teacher promotes energy and self-confidence

Coach Richard Jordan believes in getting his students up and moving, while also encouraging them to do their very best not only in the classroom, but outside the classroom as well. As the physical education teacher at Centerville Elementary School for 15-16 years, he said this is his 39th year teaching overall.

His paraprofessional, Coach Brande Shealy, said Jordan taught her when she was in junior high school. She has been working alongside Jordan for nine years but has been teaching at Centerville Elementary for 10 years.

Jordan retired about eight years ago, but that only lasted for a year due to the principal at the time asking him to come back. He’s taught at Bonaire Elementary, Warner Robins Junior High School and was an assistant principal at Houston County High School. He said his years teaching at Centerville Elementary have been wonderful and full of fun. He commended the great support from the administrators.

Originally from Macon, Jordan says his wife, Vickie, who is from Warner Robins, wooed him here. He attended Florida State University, Mercer University and Georgia College & State University. He earned a T6 specialist degree in physical education and administration. He’s also been a sports official in football, basketball, baseball and softball at the high school level and has umpired in the NCAA Divisions I and II. He and Shealy are also on a jump rope team, “The Jumping Mustangs,” which includes students in grades 3-5.

Jordan and Shealy said each four and a half weeks, they give out a KEDS (Kids Efforts Determine Success) award, where the students who have perfect attendance, do all of their exercises and have perfect behavior receive this recognition. These students get to help lead the class during exercises. At the end of the year, they give out a plaque to those students who have been a KEDS winner for the entire year. The students also have an opportunity to receive a sticker during class if they get called out for performing an exercise very well, which they call, “sticker time.”

Jordan said his classroom is a home away from home for his students. Shealy said the students just want to know they matter to somebody and they make sure of that.

Also, Jordan plays music while the students exercise and play games, which gets them moving.

“There are days when you don’t feel like moving, but when that 150 beats per minute kicks in, something starts tugging at your feet,” he said, smiling.

“Brande and I both believe in what we’re doing as far as it having effects beyond the classroom,” Jordan said.

Why teaching?

“I taught because education saved me. I realized the importance of education, and I’m trying to express this to the kids so that they can put themselves out of some of the situations they are in due to the fact that education has a place for them to better their lives. There is no telling what I would be doing without having a degree. More on top of that, baseball saved me. I was on a baseball scholarship at Mercer, so I give all of my accomplishments toward the education because of baseball. I loved baseball so much, I had to go to class.”

What brought you into the field?

“I enjoy working with young people and seeing them develop and realize the importance of seeing a problem all the way through.”

Any inspiration from past teachers?

“My high school baseball/football coach, Bobby Brown, was a major influence on my development as a baseball player and as an athlete and as an importance of education.”

Best part of teaching?

“Seeing kids realize they can do it, that they can accomplish what they started out with and seeing improvement.”

What is it about teaching that you like the most?

“When students realize that they are worthy and they can accomplish and do a lot more than they think they can do.”

Most challenging part of teaching?

“Dealing with the paperwork and realizing that there are differences in people and helping them realize that we’re all different and we’re OK; we can put forth the effort. Brande and I want to make sure that everybody feels OK and accepted, and that’s a challenge.”

Anything that makes your job difficult?

“The most difficult part of my job is when we have special education, but they need to be included in what we do. You never know when that light will come on and that change to join in. We have the mindset of not giving up on them.”

If not teaching, what?

“I got a minor in art, so I guess I would teach art. I can appreciate art. Art provides that creative outlet just like music in PE.”

Advice to students:

“Use this as a life-long activity and good practice for better health and maintaining good health.”

Advice to parents:

“Join in with the students and move. Exercise with them. The kids can teach the parents how to do this stuff.”

“Encourage your kids,” added Shealy.

Home life:

“I’ve been married for 40 years to the same person, Ms. Vickie, the one and only. She retired last year as an assistant principal in charge of instruction at Eagle Springs. We have two children, Tyler Jordan, who is a graphic artist. He lives in Clearwater, Florida. My daughter is Jessica Danielly, who is an insurance agent for the McNeal Agency. She lives in Warner Robins. I have a wonderful home life made by my wonderful wife. We have family night every Wednesday night. We have three grandchildren.”

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