Written by Emma Weber // Graphic by Makayla McDonald
With a national teacher shortage sweeping across the country, Harding Academy has found a creative solution to the problem a block away. Harding senior Wesley Laughary is also a solo math teacher and the head coach of Harding Academy’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams.
Laughary said as a student teacher, he would be working as an intern with a mentor teacher at a local school but is instead working as a full-time teacher at Harding Academy.
Laughary said his job involves both the responsibilities of teaching and coaching on top of being a Harding student.
“I have to take things day by day, from preparing lessons and practices as a teacher and coach to going to class and completing assignments as a student,” Laughary said. “It has been an extremely difficult year, but a very, very rewarding year. I would not trade this opportunity for anything.”
This fall, Laughary completed his first season as head coach with a women’s team runner-up trophy as well as three high-placing runners. Women’s team member Elle Williamson was awarded individual state champion, and her sister Zoe Williamson was the individual runner-up. On the men’s team, Rocky Stone finished in second place and beat his school record.
For the Harding Academy community, this success has benefitted the school spirit. Harding Academy Principal Bradley Francis was encouraged by the energy of the team’s success. The community came together for a send-off of the athletes, with the help of local police and emergency vehicles.
“I think there was a great sense of pride as we watched the girl’s team climb up the ranking as a team and to see the individual runners continually set new [personal records],” Francis said. “Wesley’s combination of knowledge and passion for cross-country could easily be seen by our athletes, and it caused them to feel valued and their work ethic [to] grow even stronger.”
As a coach, Laughary said he focuses not only on success but on unity as well. His priority is that his athletes compete as Christ would.
“Coaching, to me, goes beyond the surface-level tasks of organizing practices and competing for trophies,” Laughary said. “It’s about leaving an enduring impact on every individual on the team. … I have three rules for my athletes inspired by Lou Holtz: do right, do your best and care.”
Harding Academy athletic director Shane Fullerton said he has witnessed the benefits of a coach and team who care for others.
“If you choose to define success by wins and championships, then our kids and coaches definitely have an expectation to succeed,” Fullerton said. “Our coaches, faculty, administrators and parents want our students to define success by process. The expectation that our coaches have for their players to improve and enjoy at a higher level is evident when you witness so many of our teams practice and see how their coaches teach their players.”
Fullerton said the team shares a desire to honor God with how they play.
“We have been blessed with the privilege of being able to legally wear the name of Christ as we play,” Fullerton said. “That privilege comes with responsibility. As imperfect as we are, I believe that our coaches and students grasp and embrace this responsibility and ultimately want to define success in how we pursue this responsibility.”
