At our end-of-year faculty luncheon, Steve Hawley–affectionately Coach Hawley to all, whether they’ve had him as a coach or not–was recognized for 25 years of service at Westbury Christian. During that time, he has taught hundreds of Westbury Christian students and has made an eternal impact that is beyond measure.

Tell us about your career path and what led you to WCS.

SH: Originally, I thought I was going to play in the NBA. I was a good high school player on a good team, but everyone in college was a good high school player. On my first day of college practice, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I decided I was going to be the head of the history department at UCLA by the time I was 30. I realized that was not going to happen. I played basketball and baseball for a couple years at York College, got my BA and my Masters, and got certified to teach. During summers, I coached American Legion Baseball in York, Nebraska, my hometown. A small Christian school in Georgia needed a history teacher and a baseball coach. The principal was from my hometown and had been my college professor. When I got there, the boys’ basketball coach found out I played college basketball and asked me to be an assistant coach. That’s how I got started. I said I would never coach girls, but we had an emergency come up and the rest is history. I coached the girls’ basketball team for four years and baseball for six years. I started working at a basketball camp at Lipscomb University. Through those connections, I had the opportunity to be the girls’ team coach at Friendship Christian in Lebanon, TN. I was there for 13 years. I knew Greg Glenn from Lipscomb University basketball camp. He brought me for an interview in Houston that included the 1998 graduation, which was fascinating. I fell in love with the place and with the mission of school. I have taught Bible 8 and Gospels for 25 years. It doesn’t happen anywhere else that you teach the same two classes for two and a half decades.

Any year from the 25 years that is memorable?

SH: One of my favorite memories here is preaching nine weddings of players/students/co-workers. Being asked to be part of someone’s very precious day is both humbling and an honor almost unmatched! In 2008-2009, my parents died, less than a year apart. The way the school wrapped their arms around me is very memorable. I also think March 12, 2020, a Thursday. We stacked it up at the end of practice and I told the girls, “See you tomorrow!” and then I didn’t see them again for six months due to COVID. Within a week, we were online. I had to learn Google Classroom, ZOOM, FlipGrid, and Screencastify on the fly. The school was really good about helping us through that. 

My favorite year is usually the most recent year. The first year is also a favorite. It’s like being on a mission trip: you never forget the first one. My first year here was special. I had never coached middle school girls, and I did not think we would win a game; we ended up 24-2. We also introduced the Honduras project my first year. The school let me have an All School Chapel to share about the project, which we started in Tennessee. We raised about $12,000 the first year. The thing I am most proud of is keeping that project going for 25 years! Another point of pride would be the mural in my classroom painted by our AP Art students from different national backgrounds. It has become a kind of showplace over time. I’ve had this room for 24 of the 25 years I’ve been at WCS!

How have you seen the school change?

SH:  We make very good use of the facilities and resources. Some great examples of upgrades are the addition of Mundy Hall, the building and turfing of the elementary playground, replacing the rubber gym floor with a wooden court, buying and refurbishing the West Campus, and the use of technology. Another great difference is SAGE Dining. It is a huge blessing we sometimes take for granted!.

How do you motivate your students?

SH: I wish I did a better job. I try to make the Bible and spiritual teachings applicable in their lives. We do a lot of writing, and I use videos to stimulate thought. I try to give my students a chance to be involved; 85-90% of our students in the past 25 years have been involved in the Mission Lazarus and Hope for Haiti’s Children outreach, including 100% of the 8th graders-11th graders this year.  

When you are at Westbury Christian, what do you love to see that happens at our school? 

SH: I love to see our older kids interact with our younger kids. My classes have had a lot of those interactions. This year, I had it with the 1st grade and my 7th period Old Testament Survey class. What was neat is that Sarah Romain, their teacher, had been one of my students and had participated in the same work her children engaged in, helping us sort change. I really think our older kids are great role models. We have an excellent student body. Our kids get along with their teachers and like their teachers which is not the case everywhere. Our kids blend well. You see kids from our different ethnicities and interest groups hanging together! 

What do you do in your free time?

SH: I work out with weights and on the treadmill as well as reading. 

Tell us about vacations or trips that meant a lot to you

SH: Two things I look forward to are seeing my brothers at Christmas and Thanksgiving and going to Vietnam. Even starting a checklist for my Vietnam mission is something I enjoy. It’s out of my comfort zone to travel alone, but it’s better for me than to go in a group. I used to just hang with other Americans when I went to Honduras, Haiti, and China. I can do that in Houston. When I receive notice of a donation for my mission, I start to think, “Okay that’s 2.5 girls’ bikes or 2 boys’ bikes. It changed the way I think.

Have you ever met someone famous?

SH: I  worked with Charlie Ward when he was the football coach at WCS. The interesting thing about Charlie was that the kids treated him like every other adult. Whenever we had families on campus, the dads were in awe of his fame!