Mentoring is essential to educators professional development and ensures that teachers and coaches are well prepared to deliver high-quality instruction. A mentor can help a new or experienced educator navigate this complex system of growing teachers in education. This can mean connecting them with others in their field and helping them develop promising teaching strategies, all of which will build their platform and confidence as teachers. Mentoring is therefore a crucial part of the culture of learning as well as the growth that kids and schools need.

One of the best mentors and coaches I know is Hall of Fame Coach Ronnie Courtney, who has mentored students, teachers, and coaches, all while racking up wins on the basketball court and in life. He is currently the head boys basketball coach at Fort Bend Marshall High School (Missouri City, Texas), where he has amassed more than 700 wins since his appointment in October, 2020. 

Coach Ronnie Courtney started his career at Houston Furr High School before becoming a renowned coach at Houston ISD’s Jefferson Davis High School. He has been the recipient of more than a dozen awards, including Greater Houston Coach of the Year, State Coach of the Year, and National High School Coach of the Year. He won two state titles while at Willowridge High School, which he left to become Texas Southern University’s head basketball coach in 2001. In 2003, as the Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, he led Texas Southern University to the NCAA tournament. 

Ronnie returned to high school coaching in 2007 at Fort Bend ISD’s George Bush High School. There, he led the 5A boys’ basketball team to a state championship and, in 2010, was named District Coach of the Year. A year later, he became a Texas High School Coaches Association South All-Star Coach. In 2015, Coach Courtney was inducted into the Prairie View Interscholastic League Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. 

Coach Courtney’s impact on his players’ lives far outweighs his team’s successes.  This is evidenced by the accomplishments of his former players who later flourished in their professional careers, such as T.J. Ford, a former Milwaukee Bucks lottery pick; Daniel Ewing, Los Angeles Clippers; Ivan McFarland, Philadelphia 76ers; and Carl Crawford, Tampa Bay Rays.

Throughout our conversation, Ronnie highlights the importance of balancing the two roles, ultimately fostering an environment where students can develop not only as athletes but also as individuals. His commitment to mentoring, teaching, and coaching is a significant factor in the success and lasting influence he has had on his mentees’ lives.

—William Jeffery is curating Flipboard EDU Podcast

William “Coach” Jeffery is an award-winning digital learning educator and chief innovation officer at Columbia-Brazoria ISD in Texas. His tech pedagogy continues to drive him to curate educational content on Flipboard that highlights teaching strategies, edtech, and ways to improve student success. He hosts the “Flipboard EDU Podcast” as yet another way to share resources with peers.