Juvon Gales said teaching is more than a job.
“I believe what I do every day is my mission, not my job,” he said.
Gales is a special education teacher who teaches English language arts to students in sixth through eighth grades at R.K. Smith Middle School. He is also the school’s head football coach, head track coach and a wrestling coach.
A lifelong St. Charles Parish resident, Gales attended Luling Elementary School and R.K. Smith Middle School and graduated from Hahnville High School in 2013.
“I always tell [my student], ‘I felt what you’re feeling and saw what you’re seeing,’” Gales said. “I walked these same halls.”
This year will be Gales’ seventh year as a teacher and his eighth year working in the district. He said his decision to enter education came from a desire to help children and give back to the community where he was raised.
“My mom always told me that our job on Earth is to serve others and be a blessing to others,” he said. “She always raised me to be a leader and to keep God first.”
Gales said he was raised in a close, faith-centered family that encouraged him to give generously and support those around him.
“When you give back from the heart, blessings and favor come back into your life,” he said.
After graduating from Hahnville, Gales attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in marketing. He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Gales later earned his alternative teaching certification through iteach.
Gales said he connects with students through real-life conversations with them and strives to serve not only as an educator, but also as a mentor and father figure.
He mentors young men through one-on-one meetings, workouts on the levee and visits to neighborhood parks, where he sometimes plays basketball with them.
“I truly believe that if they can see you in the community reaching and teaching, they will be easier in the classroom,” he said.
He said coaching gives him another opportunity to mentor students and help prepare them for life beyond school.
“I’m looking forward to a great season and to building young men who will have productive futures,” he said.
The most rewarding part of his career is watching students grow after leaving R.K. Smith, he said.
“Getting those check-in calls and being able to have lunch with my former players and students means more than winning any award,” he said.
Gales said his family also motivates him to continue growing. Spending time with his daughters and talking with his fiancée about believing in children and making a difference in their lives pushes him to become the best version of himself.
“Seeing my students excel in life is my proudest moment,” Gales said. “Being able to inspire the next generation is my why.”
As he prepares for another academic year, he said he hopes to see students grow and hit amazing levels academically and in athletics.
And when it comes to his school, Gales does not hesitate to express his pride.
“R.K. Smith is the best school in the world!” he said.