Monday, February 23
Bob Danenhauer
Supervisor of Physical Education and Athletics, Omaha Public Schools
Omaha Sports Commission
Athletics has been able to flourish due to a strong relationship and even stronger partnership among the student athletes, coaches, administration, parents, and the community. We all share the commonly held belief that the authentic experiences offered by athletic competition will be an extension of classroom learning. Moreover, it is important that our athletic program instill in student athletes a positive character that is displayed during times of adversity as well as during times of success.Our goal is to motivate student athletes to have a strong commitment to academics. Coaches are encouraged to monitor academic grade reports and consider procedures for providing academic help for athletes facing academic challenges. The Academic Coaches Program is an excellent example of the athletic department’s commitment to support student athletes. We want our students to understand that successes in athletics and academics provide a basis for successful life-long experiences.
In addition to involving the entire community in athletics, The Omaha Public Schools is committed to using student athletics as an extension of the classroom and a venue to inspire learning. Student athletes have to learn to overcome adversity throughout the practices and contests of a given season. Learning how to overcome adversity is a significant learning process and will improve the student athlete’s academic success. Most research points to student athletes as having successful careers and academic success in college and beyond. Our vision for athletics includes the need to stress the learning process of the contest over the value of winning and losing.