Building leaders recipient (10.30.13):
John Navara, Portland football
There are a lot of similarities between teaching in a classroom and coaching on a field, says Portland High School head football coach John Novara - and he's in a position to know.
In addition to his duties with the football team, Novara coaches Portland's freshman boys' basketball team, the girls' track and field team, as well his own children's sports teams.
Then there's his day job as a math teacher at Portland High School, where he teaches pre-algebra, algebra I and geometry, and serves as the junior class adviser.
In order to be a successful coach, "you have to be a successful teacher," Novara said.
"I think coaching and teaching are the same things," Novara said. "You have to want to work with students. You have to put a lot of extra time in.
In addition to his duties with the football team, Novara coaches Portland's freshman boys' basketball team, the girls' track and field team, as well his own children's sports teams.
Then there's his day job as a math teacher at Portland High School, where he teaches pre-algebra, algebra I and geometry, and serves as the junior class adviser.
In order to be a successful coach, "you have to be a successful teacher," Novara said.
"I think coaching and teaching are the same things," Novara said. "You have to want to work with students. You have to put a lot of extra time in.
