September 27, 2023
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
Coach John Howse, physical education teacher and assistant football coach at Whitworth-Buchanan Middle School, has been in education for over 20 years.
After a few different stops across Rutherford County, he has settled in at Whitworth-Buchanan.
Coach Howse says he focuses on helping middle school students progress and respond to adversity when they are dealt tough things throughout life.
QUESTION: Can you tell me about your background?
Howse: I was born and raised in Murfreesboro. I went to McFadden Elementary, Central Middle School, Riverdale, then went to MTSU to become a teacher and to play football. The football thing didn’t work out, but the teaching did. The first teaching opportunity for me came along at Campus School. I had some really good teachers around me who became mentors to me.
Q: Being a P.E. teacher, what does success look like to you?
Howse: Success comes in a lot of different forms. When I see a kid who struggles with confidence, progress and find it — that’s success to me. When I work with one of our more skilled athletes and they find out they can get more done including their team — that is success. It could be as simple as a kid making a catch in the gym — that could be success. One of the things I wanted to bring into my area was celebration. Anytime there is a positive, big or small, I want to be my students’ biggest cheerleader. This almost feels like I’m not working. I get to come in every day and work with students. It’s been really amazing.
Q: Can you talk about some expectations you have for students in your area?
Howse: We talk a lot about respect. Students know to respect their teachers, but I want kids to learn to respect one another. Just because you are in the gym, and you can catch better than another student doesn’t make you any better or worse than someone who can’t do that as well. Honestly, I want students to know that they mean something. We want them to know that we care. If students need me, I’m here for them. I want them to know that. Sometimes students need a hug, some food or a dad-joke. We’re here to help them in any way we can. We never know what issues kids are walking in school with every day.
Q: Is there a single moment so far in this school year that you could look back on that motivated you?
Howse: Our football team is really working hard right now. I see it this way. Even though we are working hard and it is not translating on the scoreboard, we are making progress. It’s the same thing in the classroom. I want our students to know how to respond to adversity. Though defeat may come, it’s not the end of the world. Keep your head up and keep moving. One of the biggest things we focus on here in the gym, and football alike, is the reality that it is okay to make mistakes. If they do make mistakes, we are here to help them. We want our kids to be mentally tough. We’re trying to help change students’ mindsets.