“I want to provide a good learning environment and assist any student in any way that I can, especially in helping them grow and further their education while being a mentor at the same time.”

Background

• From College Park, Georgia
• Graduated from Lovejoy High School

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in sports management from University of Arkansas

Responsibilities

• Special education parapro
• Defensive line football coach
• Assistant track coach

Starr’s Mill welcomes new special education parapro, Patrick Jones. This is Jones’ second year teaching, but his first at Starr’s Mill. Jones taught next door at Rising Starr last year. Along with being a parapro, Jones uses his experience as defensive tackle for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks to coach the Panthers’ defensive line.

After graduating from Arkansas and leaving NFL tryouts behind, Jones planned on coaching at a college level. When that did not work out, an opportunity arose to become a graduate assistant for several small colleges, but Jones did not pursue those schools. Instead, Jones saw the opportunity to work at Starr’s Mill and took it.

“[Teaching] is just one of those things that felt like a right move,” Jones said, “and next thing I know it just kind of grew on me, and I love it.”

Jones plans on giving his athletes tips from his experience in high school to prepare them for college and the next stages of life.

“Playing football 18 years of my life, I’ve always thought about the impact that coaches made on my life and how much that meant to me,” Jones said. “I [also] wanted to make an impact on young kids’ lives.”