Staying for More
40 years.
That’s how long Webster Middle School’s Katrinka Greear a had been coaching when she decided it was time to retire.
Like many athletes who find themselves in the twilight of their careers, it wasn’t easy for Coach Greear to walk away from the job she loved.
I’ve never not wanted to be a coach
But, years of watching the quality of her school’s athletic fields steadily decline had taken its toll.
Webster Middle School in Oklahoma City is part of Oklahoma’s largest school district, Oklahoma City Public Schools. Eighty-four percent of the district’s 46,000 students are economically disadvantaged.
The kids that struggle are the kids that have nothing to be a part of.
For kids in this environment, sports can be one of the only positives in their lives.
As Webster’s fields deteriorated, participation waned. Without a culture of sports, it became increasingly difficult to impact lives.
Then, just as Coach Greear decided it was time to walk away, Fields & Futures announced its plans to renovate the athletic fields at Webster Middle School.
With newfound hope, Coach Greear postponed her retirement.
She owed it to her students to ensure they took full advantage of their new opportunities to join teams and experience being part of something.
And after committing 40 years of her life to serving kids through sports, she owed it to herself to stay for more.
On the many playing fields rehabilitated and maintained by Fields & Futures, young men and women are able to learn invaluable life lessons and receive the guidance, mentorship, and positive influences missing from their lives.
To learn more and find out how you can help, please visit FieldsandFutures.org or email info@fieldsandfutures.org.
