HUTTO — One Farley Middle School coach and teacher took change in stride and is being recognized as a result.
The district named Seth Jordan as Hutto ISD Athletic Department Employee of the Year for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Athletic Director Brad LaPlante said Jordan was nominated by his peers as someone who creates a great culture within the athletics department.
“He sets the expectation on what we’re doing, building champions at Farley Middle School,” LaPlante said. “Then he has the follow through with it. The parents have a lot of respect for all of the good things that he is doing.”
LaPlante added that Jordan has been one of the best employees for a number of years, not just the 2023-2024 school year.
Jordan has coached football, basketball and track for the last 13 years at FMS.
LaPlante said he hopes Jordan is proud of the award.
“Some people think some of these school awards that everybody does each year is cheesy,” LaPlante said. “I don’t think it is. If your peers think you’re doing a great job and nominate you for it, that’s a big deal.”
Jordan had taught physical education for some time, but willingly made the move to work in the special education department this year in addition to coaching when asked.
Since he started out his career in special education and he knew the district had a shortage, he said he gladly embraced the change.
This year he worked for the school’s BASE program, which helps kids with needs pick up specific skills and traits.
“What we do is support kids in academic and social needs that they may fall short on,” Jordan said. “There’s support for them to help them achieve the goals they set for themselves.”
LaPlante described middle school coaches as the “foundation” of the athletic program. They are the person to introduce the kids to team sports at the school level, so he said it’s important to have coaches who care about making it enjoyable for kids.
The Farley Middle School teams regularly face off against teams from Elgin, Georgetown and Liberty Hill for their contests on Tuesday nights.
“I’m not a guy concerned with wins and losses,” Jordan said. “Those are great, we do a great job at Hutto getting those wins. I like to see the kids succeed in whatever they want to do, even if it’s outside of the athletic realm.”
He added his number one goal is to make sure his athletes become good people of the community.
Seth Jordan, a Farley Middle School coach, was recognized as Hutto Independent School District’s Athletic Department Employee of the Year. Photo courtesy of Brad LaPlante
