“What originally drew me to teaching was to be able to coach.”

Background

• Grew up in Atlanta, Georgia
• Attended Wheeler High School in Marietta

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in secondary education and emphasis in social studies from University of Alabama
• Master’s degree in teaching from National University

Responsibilities

• Teaches geography and U.S. history
• Assistant football coach
• Junior varsity boys soccer coach

Starr’s Mill welcomes Derek Rials to the social studies department. Along with being a U.S. history teacher, he is tackling the responsibility of teaching a new geography course. The new course comes with the obstacle of trying to “develop a solid course, adding material as we go along,” Rials said.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Rials uses his experience as his high school’s quarterback to help while coaching football alongside head coach Chad Phillips.

When Rials was asked to coach JV boys soccer, he gladly accepted this coaching position as well. During his time coaching, he found a spark of interest for the sport especially after visiting England. “I took a trip to London a while ago, and I felt the need to pick a team and that became Chelsea F.C.,” Rials said.

When Rials was only a few weeks into teaching, he noticed the ambition and positive attitude of the student body, which encourages him as a teacher and coach.

“What drew me to Starr’s Mill was the attitude of the students,” Rials said.  “Students from other schools aren’t as motivated as they are here.”