Patrick Collier ('08) has joined the Darlington Community as a history teacher for grades 6-7, head coach of the middle school track and field teams, and assistant coach of the middle school football team.
Collier holds a B.S. in General Social Science Education from Auburn and completed his student teaching in U.S. History at Dadeville High School in Tallapoosa, Ala. In college, Collier mentored an elementary school student for two years through Auburn's Project Uplift.
"Growing up with a mom who is an educator, I feel that I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to become an educator myself," he said. "It was probably during my second semester of college, though, that I really decided that teaching was what I wanted to do. I was mentoring an elementary school student in Auburn, and I really enjoyed helping him learn and grow through his school work. That was when I knew that i wanted to be an educator and a coach."
Since moving back to Rome, Collier has spent a great deal of time at Darlington as a substitute teacher and community coach (football and track), while also being employed as a wrangler at Barnsley Gardens. In addition, he served as an assistant basketball coach at Model Middle School last year.
"I am very excited about coming back and being able to work with many of the teachers and coaches who taught me while I was here in the middle school," Collier said. "I am also excited about getting to work with the middle school kids and to begin my teaching career at a place I love. Finally, I look forward to working at the same school with my mother, Perree Collier."
Collier's teaching philosophy is right in line with Darlington's.
"I think that it is important that the students not only learn the information, but that they are able to use what they have learned in their day-to-day lives," he said. "It is critical that the students actively participate in class, whether it be through discussion or activities. This way, they become more engaged in the material. Finally, I believe that every student learns differently and that it is my job to make sure that I use different styles of teaching to make sure that every student as an equal chance to learn and be successful."
Collier, who was an active student-athlete during his Darlington years, also looks forward to getting out on the athletic field with students.
"Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and I look forward to being involved in sports again through coaching," he said.
