'Bringing the juice': Educator of the Week energizes a district

Strengthening the body helps sharpen the mind. That’s the approach of our Educator of the Week.

Mr. Nolan Miller is the physical education teacher at Monroe Junior High School.

He’s a teacher whose intensity energizes a district.

“Let the ball dictate what you do, even if you are just holding the jump ropes.” Mr. Miller is leading gym class for a group of 8th graders. He’s been told Local12 is doing a story on exciting news for the district. Voters just passed a bond issue by a big margin 64 percent for a new high school to be built.

It means spaces like the gym – which is divided by a curtain – won’t have to be shared between the schools.

Time to tell Mr. Miller why the camera crew is really there. “Hi, I’m Meghan Mongillo with Local12 and you are our Educator of the Week." "Oh my gosh."

The honor we gave him is just a continuation of the praise he gets from students said Principal Stanger. “We do a Hornet of the Month process where student can nominate staff to receive Hank the Hornet – it’s a plush hornet. I can always count on the high level of student nominations that he will receive.”

Kennedy Bryant is one of them. “He’s very engaging and brings a lot of energy to the class.”

So is Anthony Joseph “Whether it’s a small drill about dribbling, passing or setting to going outside and playing something so I think he is pretty energetic.”

Mr. Miller says he thrives on exciting the students. “I call it bringing the juice, setting the tone and bringing passion and energy to the room. Making sure they are trying to emulate that, that’s what it starts with.”

He’s the strength and conditioning coordinator for every high school sport. Principal Stanger said this about his work outside of school hours. “It’s been a huge lift to our athletic department working with all kinds of teams from swimming to golf to football. Any extracurricular we’ve got, he’s serving as our strength and condition coordinator, so he’s handled that in addition to our kids in PE and he’s handled it in a great way.”

Mr. Miller is credited with building stronger, more resilient athletes on the varsity fields and in the junior high classroom.

Source: Meghan Mongillo, WKRC