Conveying the Joy of Teaching
Mention the names of Erica and Kevin Coffey to Hannah Curley, and a bright smile crosses her face.
The Coffeys are her good friends.
They’ve encouraged her, challenged her, guided her, and helped her find her professional passion.
“They’re very fun and caring people,” said Hannah, a rising sophomore at James Madison University and a teacher this summer in the Collegiate-based Learning Bridge program.
“They do everything for everyone. You rarely get a ‘no’ from them.”
The Coffeys are her good friends.
They’ve encouraged her, challenged her, guided her, and helped her find her professional passion.
“They’re very fun and caring people,” said Hannah, a rising sophomore at James Madison University and a teacher this summer in the Collegiate-based Learning Bridge program.
“They do everything for everyone. You rarely get a ‘no’ from them.”
Hannah first met the Coffeys when she was a student at Thomas Dale High School in Chesterfield County.
Erica Coffey was her Spanish teacher.
“I really enjoyed her class,” said the 2008 Dale graduate. “I really liked the bond she had with her students.
“You could tell she enjoyed teaching. I want to be a Spanish teacher mainly because of Mrs. Coffey.”
Kevin Coffey was her basketball coach.
“He was very good at relating to his players and making everything fun,” Hannah added.
“He taught me that if you’re not having fun, you shouldn’t be playing.
“I want to be a basketball and volleyball coach too.”
Erica (foreign languages) and Kevin (history) are serving as Learning Bridge mentors.
In their roles, they check lesson plans, observe classes, offer suggestions and feedback, and provide guidance for the college students teaching the 50 City of Richmond middle school kids enrolled in LB.
“Both are natural educators,” said LB director Cheryl Groce-Wright of the duo who were college sweethearts at University of Virginia and married on July 27, 2002.
“Kevin is a tremendously committed role model. He’s very real, very authentic. What you see is what you get.
“Erica is funny, delightful, and energetic. She gives a lot to her students, and they give a lot back.”
Kevin Coffey, who has taught and coached at Dale since 2002, was a highly acclaimed basketball and football star at Benedictine High School in Cleveland.
A 6-4 guard, he was a McDonald’s All-American who averaged 28.9 points per game as a junior and 22.1 as a senior and drew serious interest from a host of big-time Division I programs.
A wide receiver who caught six passes for 256 yards in his final prep game, he accepted a football scholarship to UVA, and, after a stellar career, earned a tryout with the Carolina Panthers.
At Dale, he’s assisted with track and football and, over the last three years, he’s built the girls’ basketball program into one of the best in the Central Region.
“I really enjoy the social interaction with the kids,” he said. “I enjoy being able to pass on information, in (history) class and on the basketball court, and watching them use it and develop their minds.
“Seeing kids progress is a good feeling. Seeing them graduate is great.”
A Richmond native, Erica Coffey taught two years at Brookland Middle School in Henrico County and five at Dale before joining the Collegiate family in September 2007.
She’s a 1996 L.C. Bird graduate who won the Central Region outdoor high jump championship as a junior and the indoor title as a senior.
The Cougars’ high jump coach, she has a personal best was 5-6.
“I enjoy getting to know the kids, talking to them, joking with them, watching them grow up,” she said.
“I like watching them ‘get it,’ seeing them have that ‘a-ha’ moment.”
The Coffeys' Learning Bridge gig is coming to a close, and the results of their efforts and expertise are appearing in clear focus before their eyes.
“In the four weeks,” said Erica, “we’ve seen a big difference (in the performances of the aspiring teachers they’ve mentored). You can see it in their demeanor, their lesson plans, their confidence level, and the whole vibe in the classroom.”
“Seeing them prosper has been great,” he husband added. “They’ve learned from their experiences, and knowing we’ve had a hand in their being better teachers is a reward in itself.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
Back
Erica Coffey was her Spanish teacher.
“I really enjoyed her class,” said the 2008 Dale graduate. “I really liked the bond she had with her students.
“You could tell she enjoyed teaching. I want to be a Spanish teacher mainly because of Mrs. Coffey.”
Kevin Coffey was her basketball coach.
“He was very good at relating to his players and making everything fun,” Hannah added.
“He taught me that if you’re not having fun, you shouldn’t be playing.
“I want to be a basketball and volleyball coach too.”
Erica (foreign languages) and Kevin (history) are serving as Learning Bridge mentors.
In their roles, they check lesson plans, observe classes, offer suggestions and feedback, and provide guidance for the college students teaching the 50 City of Richmond middle school kids enrolled in LB.
“Both are natural educators,” said LB director Cheryl Groce-Wright of the duo who were college sweethearts at University of Virginia and married on July 27, 2002.
“Kevin is a tremendously committed role model. He’s very real, very authentic. What you see is what you get.
“Erica is funny, delightful, and energetic. She gives a lot to her students, and they give a lot back.”
Kevin Coffey, who has taught and coached at Dale since 2002, was a highly acclaimed basketball and football star at Benedictine High School in Cleveland.
A 6-4 guard, he was a McDonald’s All-American who averaged 28.9 points per game as a junior and 22.1 as a senior and drew serious interest from a host of big-time Division I programs.
A wide receiver who caught six passes for 256 yards in his final prep game, he accepted a football scholarship to UVA, and, after a stellar career, earned a tryout with the Carolina Panthers.
At Dale, he’s assisted with track and football and, over the last three years, he’s built the girls’ basketball program into one of the best in the Central Region.
“I really enjoy the social interaction with the kids,” he said. “I enjoy being able to pass on information, in (history) class and on the basketball court, and watching them use it and develop their minds.
“Seeing kids progress is a good feeling. Seeing them graduate is great.”
A Richmond native, Erica Coffey taught two years at Brookland Middle School in Henrico County and five at Dale before joining the Collegiate family in September 2007.
She’s a 1996 L.C. Bird graduate who won the Central Region outdoor high jump championship as a junior and the indoor title as a senior.
The Cougars’ high jump coach, she has a personal best was 5-6.
“I enjoy getting to know the kids, talking to them, joking with them, watching them grow up,” she said.
“I like watching them ‘get it,’ seeing them have that ‘a-ha’ moment.”
The Coffeys' Learning Bridge gig is coming to a close, and the results of their efforts and expertise are appearing in clear focus before their eyes.
“In the four weeks,” said Erica, “we’ve seen a big difference (in the performances of the aspiring teachers they’ve mentored). You can see it in their demeanor, their lesson plans, their confidence level, and the whole vibe in the classroom.”
“Seeing them prosper has been great,” he husband added. “They’ve learned from their experiences, and knowing we’ve had a hand in their being better teachers is a reward in itself.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
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