Chris Holt, Special Education teacher, has been a part of the Fair Grove High School staff for eleven years now. Teaching both knowledge and strength, he coaches both football and wrestling and manages his classroom.
Chris attended Bolivar Missouri High School, where he played football, did track, and wrestled. He then went on to graduate from MSU (Missouri State University). Chris has become very involved as a teacher and coach at Fair Grove. He spent four years as a paraprofessional, seven years as a teacher, has coached football for eleven years, and is going on to be the head wrestling coach for the second year.Â
Chris wants to help his students have a better understanding of the material he teaches and help grow their knowledge. Betsy Small, high school chess sponsor as well as special education teacher, said, “His classroom is set up to help get the best out of students. He works really hard to make sure his students are successful and have the support they need.”
Kayla Holt, middle school English teacher and middle school cheerleading coach, shared, “One thing I wish people outside of education understood about Coach Holt’s work is how much time, energy, and love he puts into the sports he coaches.” Kayla continued, “…people don’t often see the person behind the coach, they just see them as a coach, and there are often so many more feelings a coach has during their time in a sport than what they show on the outside.”
Kayla talked about Chris inside and outside of the classroom. “…he’s their number one supporter and would do anything to see kids succeed,” Kayla stated.Â
Chris’s favorite quote is by Mark Twain, “The two most important days in a person’s life are the day they were born and then the day they find out why.”
While being responsible for both coaching and teaching, Holt manages many tasks that keep him involved with the school day in and day out. After eleven years at Fair Grove, Chris has worked with many kinds of learners and athletes and has worked hard to help them out, no matter the kind of student they are. Building connections with all those around him and strengthening the community.
