I think there should be more co-ed sports, and they should be more instructive rather than competitive. MICHAEL J. WALZER Teacher and Coach Akron Public Schools Akron, OH https://youtu.be/pv4rS_7ZaJo Michael J. Walzer was inspired to pursue a career as an educator during high school. He began tutoring third-grade students at a Catholic school as a senior. This experience was so influential that he majored in elementary education after graduating. Teaching grades one through eight for many years, he also began coaching soccer and track, which he would continue to do for much of his career. Mr. Walzer notes how much he enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of so many students’ educational journeys. He also notes the influence and importance of extracurricular activities and sports because they teach students the value of teamwork and consistency. After celebrating 30 years at Akron Public Schools, where he taught history at the beginning of his career and math and science throughout the 1980s, Mr. Walzer retired from public school education. Following his retirement, he became a part-time substitute teacher in 2008. He spent more than a decade filling in at four public school districts and several private schools in Summit County. Mr. Walzer plans to return to substituting soon. Well-regarded for his creative output, Mr. Walzer has authored over 60 letters that were published in the Akron Beacon Journal from 2007 to 2023. He has also had three poems published by Eber and Wein Publishers: “Staking a Claim” in 2014, “The Many Colors of Vinny Vango” in 2017, “Hula Hoopla” in 2022, and several others that will likely be published in the future. Mr. Walzer has notably been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine for his professional achievements. In his own academic endeavors, Mr. Walzer pursued a formal education at Kent State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in elementary education in 1976. As a youth, he attended public and private Catholic schools. He also ran track, competing at the state level and winning 13th in Ohio in the mile as a middle-distance runner. Mr. Walzer was decorated with several ribbons for his wins.
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