By Mike Murray

“It’s a great day to have a great day!”

That simple refrain, joyfully declared by my Lower School principal, Inga Thompson, still echoes in my memory. She began each school day not with administrative reminders or announcements, but with a reminder about perspective and gratitude. As a first-through fourth-grader, I may not have fully understood the weight of her words, but over time, I came to appreciate the way she connected education not just to what we knew, but to how we lived. Even at that early age, she modeled what it meant to be an educator who was also a mentor, motivator, and role model.

As I progressed through my schooling, I encountered other teachers and coaches who expanded my understanding of what true education entailed. Vincent Zabinski, my middle school history teacher and football coach, had the gift of storytelling. He brought history to life by making it accessible, weaving narratives that gave relevance to dates and events most adolescents would otherwise ignore. Jim Poole, my English teacher and swim coach, combined accountability with encouragement. He held us to high standards of comprehension and communication, ensuring that we could not only analyze literature but articulate our ideas with clarity. In Upper School, teachers like Scott Young reminded us that rigor, process, and respect for tradition were as important as innovation. His insistence on precision in lab reports was more than a demand for neatness; it was a lesson in discipline and method, qualities that transcend any one subject.

These teachers and coaches left me with more than content knowledge. They embodied the reality that educators wear many hats, shaping students not only academically and athletically but also emotionally, socially, and morally. Looking back now, as both a teacher and coach myself, I realize their influence was not simply in what they taught, but in how they adapted, supported, and guided us through different stages of life.

The Expanding Role of Educators

Fast forward to today, and the responsibilities of teachers and coaches have only multiplied. We live in a world where students arrive each day carrying a complex set of experiences and pressures, academic competition, social media comparisons, mental health challenges, and uncertainty about the future. The role of the educator is no longer just to deliver knowledge or refine skills; it is to understand, empathize, and respond to the full spectrum of a student’s humanity.

That means teachers are often expected to serve simultaneously as:

• Educators are responsible for academic instruction.
  
  
• Counselors help students navigate emotional struggles.
  
  
• Motivators inspiring resilience and perseverance.
  
  
• Mediators address conflicts among peers or between students and their authority figures.
  
  
• Role models exemplifying the character and discipline we hope to instill.
  
  

These roles are not sequential. They often collide in real time, forcing teachers and coaches to pivot quickly. A coach might move from running a practice to consoling a distraught athlete. A teacher might pause a lesson to help a student manage anxiety. This level of responsiveness is demanding, but it has become a non-negotiable part of education in the 21st century.

Generational and Societal Shifts

The reasons for this shift are complex. Generational changes mean that students arrive in classrooms with different expectations than their predecessors. They are digital natives, accustomed to immediate feedback and constant connectivity. They are more open about mental health but also more susceptible to stress and anxiety, often exacerbated by the curated perfection of online life.

Societal pressures add another layer. Families today face economic and social challenges that inevitably affect students. Teachers and coaches often become the stable presence in a young person’s life, filling gaps left by strained family dynamics or systemic inequities.

And then there is the cultural shift in how we view education itself. Schools are no longer just places for academic training; they are comprehensive ecosystems of development, where everything from wellness to civic responsibility is expected to be addressed. This broadened mission is noble, but it also places extraordinary pressure on educators.

The Blessing and the Burden

The expanded role of teachers and coaches is both a gift and a challenge. On one hand, it provides the opportunity to profoundly influence young people beyond academics or athletics. The small victories: a student who gains confidence, an athlete who learns resilience through loss, become deeply meaningful moments that ripple across a lifetime.

On the other hand, the weight of constant adaptation can be overwhelming. Teachers and coaches work long hours, often in early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays, filled with competitions, rehearsals, or preparation. The profession demands a significant amount of time, energy, and emotional investment. Add to that the responsibilities of family life, and many educators find themselves stretched to the point of exhaustion.

“We cannot be everything to everyone, but many days, it feels as though we are asked to try.”

This is the paradox of modern education. The work is noble and impactful, yet often unsustainable without intentional boundaries and support.

Pathways Forward

If this reality cannot be avoided, then adaptation is key. Some strategies and resources that educators and coaches can embrace include:

• Community and Collaboration. Professional networks, both within schools and through organizations such as USA Swimming, the American Swimming Coaches Association, or the National Association of Independent Schools, offer valuable connections and perspectives. Sharing challenges and solutions with colleagues fosters resilience.
  
  
• Boundaries and Balance. Protecting personal and family time is essential. Saying “no” is not a sign of weakness but of sustainability.
  
  
• Professional Development. Training in areas like social-emotional learning, cultural competency, and mental health awareness equips educators to better meet the needs of today’s students.
  
  
• Celebrating the Process. Just as Scott Young once taught me in science lab or on the pool deck, success lies in the process as much as the outcome. Educators must remind themselves that every step, no matter how small, is a form of progress.

The teachers and coaches of my youth, Inga Thompson, Vincent Zabinski, Jim Poole, and Scott Young, did more than teach lessons or run practices. They embodied a model of education that was rigorous, compassionate, and deeply human. Their influence has guided my own approach as an educator and coach, even as the profession's landscape has become increasingly complex.

Today’s teachers and coaches are asked to adapt in ways those mentors might never have imagined. They must be experts and empaths, disciplinarians and cheerleaders, instructors and confidants. It is a demanding job, and at times, a daunting one. However, it is also one of the most important roles in society.

For those of us privileged to serve, the many hats we wear are more than burdens; they are opportunities. Opportunities to guide young people through uncertainty, to teach resilience, to instill gratitude, and to model integrity. The world will always need educators and coaches willing to rise to that challenge.

And if we listen closely, we can still hear the reminder that guided me long ago: “It’s a great day to have a great day.”