This week I had the opportunity to meet with Mrs. Jean Fedak of Algonquin Regional High School to get to know her a bit.
Tell me about your role at ARHS?
This is my 34th year teaching in Northborough, starting as a one-year substitute physical education teacher in 1976. I have worked as the health coordinator, health teacher; and now as chair of the Health and Fitness Department at Algonquin Regional. I coach girls’ volleyball and co-ed swimming. I’m married, and live and raised my children here in Northborough (they are now 28 and 26).
Tell me about your year?
What a year it’s been! In February of 2009 I was awarded the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association‘s (MIAA) New Agenda: Northeast/MIAA Girls and Women in Sport Distinguished Service Award, in June I became the chair of the department, then in October I was voted into the Massachusetts Girls’ Volleyball Coaches Association (MGCA) Hall of Fame, and in November I was inducted into the New Agenda: Northeast 2009 Women in Sports Hall of Fame.
I am truly humbled and honored by my placement among the truly talented and remarkable honored women coaches of the MIAA and MGVCA. None of this happens with one person. I would be nothing without the support of my department, co-coaches and various superintendents, principals, athletic directors (especially Fran Whitten, my current AD) with whom I have had the privilege to work. I also am particularly blessed to be surrounded by outstanding co-workers in my department (Karen Perry, Melissa Arvanigian, Neil Burke, Brian Mawson, Andy McGowan), extremely skilled assistant coaches (volleyball: Janice Henningson, Lisa Strom and swimming: Chris Peterson, Paul Renfrew) and the culture of educational priority instilled by the families here in Northborough and Southborough.
What were your influences?
As a young teen, I was involved with Girl Scouting and swimming and did lifeguarding and assistant coaching and volunteering. Senior year in high school, I had the opportunity to student-teach field hockey, basketball and volleyball in younger classmates’ physical education classes. I undergrad-ed at Russell Sage, a women’s college where women are taught: ‘you can achieve what you set your mind to’. Out of the 18 physical education majors in my class, many had never participated in sports during high school. I was fortunate to have attended a high school with a lot more girls’ sports than most.
My mom was a major influence in my life; she had been a physical education teacher and was a WAC (Women’s Army Corps). The army trained her to work as a physical therapist during World War II and she returned to work in that field after raising her family. I was fortunate to be mentored over the years by fellow Algonquin teachers and coaches, John Clark, Dick Walsh, Jim Diamantopoulos, Sue Allen and Karen Perry. They all coached championship teams…football, basketball, track and field, field hockey, and gymnastics. They taught me by example how to teach and coach high school students and 34 years later, I am still learning from them. They are the best!
How do you motivate your teams and your students?
The Peer Leadership program is an example of a motivational course I teach, where students learn about health issues and reach out to other students with information on the issue. The students volunteer, plan, make presentations, write letters and gather pledges to not smoke for the Great American Smokeout. The volunteers make a paper chain with the pledges gathered, large enough to cross the cafeteria. Similar programs are run about prom time for Melanoma (skin care, anti-tanning) and anti-drinking campaigns.
At the beginning of the season, I meet with my teams and individual players to set goals. We have a freestyle ladder for the swim team and a vertical jump contest for the volleyball team. I also have a special assignment for the volleyball team seniors. They read Pat Riley’s “A Winner Within” and are given practice time over the season to teach the major points of the book to the underclassmen on the team. The book covers lessons in team building and working together as a group, which are also important life lessons.
Not all of the motivation comes from me. Swim team captains select a “Hero of the Meet” and as a group they have a cohesive, family-like feel; they feel like being part of the team is very special. My husband also plays a part. At each milestone attainment (league, sectionals, state etc), he bakes cookies for the volleyball team.
I encourage the teams to work together, enjoy each others’ company and maintain balance and priorities: ‘God comes first, if you have that in your life’, family, academics, sports, then everything else.
Tell me about some of your favorite coaching memories?
Over the 19 years that I have coached the Algonquin Regional High School Varsity volleyball team, I have found that our lives have been blessed with sleepy Saturday morning practices, exciting matches, fun pasta and tie-dye parties, fundraisers, banquets, team bowling and pizza night, parent-student games, and even a few sleepovers in the gym. One of my fondest memories from my earlier coaching years was discovering that the team bonding party I thought I was attending at a player’s home was really a maternity shower for me when I was six months pregnant with my first baby, and the rocking chair the team gave to me at the team banquet that year.
Another favorite memory from my more recent years coaching was watching the volleyball team receive the 2006 MIAA Division 1 Team Sportsmanship of the Year Award for the wonderful way that the girls’ have embraced our team manager Kate, who has Downs Syndrome. These are memories that will last a lifetime. These girls will have a place in my heart forever.
All I know is that I am privileged to be able to go to work everyday to do something I enjoy so much, whether it be teaching or coaching.
a shout out for Jean Fedak who deserves every accolade she has received and
all the good things she says of colleagues and teams apply to her.
She truly leads by example. nwb