As chairperson of  Tyrone High's English Department, I'm proud that my alma mater is Blair County's only National Blue Ribbon High School. I collaborate with a creative and caring cadre of teachers who embrace the mission to be role models, to engage students, and to treat them as if they were our own--because in a genuine sense, they are.  As I wear a lot of coaching hats, the strategies I employ in class evoke the imagery of coaching, starting with a patient-but-let's-get-cracking manner and a clear understanding of each class member's capabilities.  In matters academic and athletic, good coaching means motivating kids to embrace high goals, building confidence, and delivering feedback until a task seems effortless. Consistently in the state's Top 10 for producing student growth, the results of our department's approaches speak for themselves.