Teacher Feature: Barry Dalton

By Barbara P. Jacoby

Education is the family business for Hasty ES Fine Arts Academy PE teacher Barry Dalton. He was born into a family of educators, including his mom, who is a 41-year teacher. Dalton heard the calling in high school, when a teacher and wrestling coach named Steve Lattizori made a positive impact in his life, setting in motion Dalton’s now 14-year career as an educator.

“Coach Latt set an incredible example of being both a great educator in the classroom and an amazing coach in the wrestling room, by demonstrating how to form real relationships with his students and athletes,” said Dalton, who was named Hasty’s Teacher of the Year and the Cherokee County School District’s (CCSD) Teacher of the Year in 2019. “This example helped me realize that teaching and coaching were my calling.”

Dalton carries on his favorite teacher’s legacy by focusing on creating “caring, meaningful relationships” with students to encourage their participation in learning.

“In my opinion, without trusting relationships, students will struggle to learn what is being taught,” he said. “As a physical educator, I have the privilege of reaching and impacting every student in the school. The physical education setting provides me with opportunities to teach students about personal responsibility, problem solving, cooperation, collaboration, perseverance, healthy living, and how to win and lose with integrity. I believe that these real-life skills are imperative for students to know, as they grow up and take on the challenges presented by the real world.”

One example of this is the student-led sports education model he uses for fourth and fifth graders. At the beginning of the school year, aka “season,” students are assigned to a team and then work collaboratively to create a team name, color, and chant; learn the rules of the game; and assign team members to different roles (i.e., coach, fitness instructor, referee, scorekeeper, equipment manager, reporter, etc.). Students sign a code of conduct and agree to treat others with kindness, show good sportsmanship, and perform their roles to the best of their abilities. The “season” culminates with a tournament during which students are expected to demonstrate this code.

“Through this model, I have seen true student engagement and higher levels of learning,” Dalton said.

Dalton succeeds in his mission not only through classroom lessons, but also through his service beyond the school day. Through the Hasty United Soccer Club, his third- through fifth-grade students can participate in organized soccer practices and games with expert instruction from partners at Cherokee Impact. With his assistant principal, Dalton wrote a winning grant to earn $10,000 to build the “Path to Becoming” walking track at the school.

What can parents do to help their children be successful at school?

“Parents can help their children succeed at school by becoming engaged in their child’s interests and learning,” Dalton said. “Parents can also provide their children with routines and structure at home, which focus on keeping them healthy through proper nutrition, sleep, limited screen time, and opportunities to engage in daily physical activity. I believe many students are not getting enough sleep due to the increased use of technology, so I challenge parents to be proactive when it comes to removing technology at bedtime. For students to be ready to engage in learning at school, they need to be provided with support at home.”