Staff Spotlight: Mr. Agnew

*Educational Aide / Football Coach*

By: BHS Staff Profiles 

September 13, 2024

Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Mr. Travis Agnew. As an educational aide and head varsity football coach, Mr. Agnew’s career started this year; he accepted the head coaching position in February. Outside of Brooklyn, he taught at Steps Academy for two years, primarily working with students with autism. After that, he taught ELA and History for five years in Bedford. He had the opportunity to work with all grade levels; it was challenging but rewarding. In his free time, he enjoys walking his dog, spending time with friends and family, playing sports, and relaxing. A fun fact about him is that he went to Brooklyn (K-12) and graduated here in 2011. Many teachers he had growing up are still here, and for him, it is very cool and somewhat of a “full circle experience.”

Q: What is your favorite aspect of your job?

A: “Definitely helping kids learn.”

Q: What made you want to be an educational aide?

A: “The opportunity to help the community I live in and to coach football.”

Q: Describe your time management between teaching and coaching.

A: “The best way to describe it is that there are a couple of hours outside of work and a couple of hours inside of school that I spend every day lesson planning and game planning. It is a lot of meticulous planning, but it is necessary to teach and coach at a high level. Organization is key!”

Q: How do you motivate your athletes as a football coach?

A: “Culture change and reminding the guys about ‘the bigger picture’. Driving home culture change with the older guys increases motivation and creates a trickle-down effect. Also, as a staff member, we are very invested in these students’ personal and athletic goals. We have a staff who fully supports each individual’s aspirations and plans to help them achieve their goals.”

Q: Who was your biggest inspiration growing up?

A: “My father because he is my role model.”

Q: What is your favorite football team to watch and root for?

A: “The Browns and The Canes.”

Q: What is your favorite high school memory?

A: “Doing the newspaper. I loved being a part of that group. I wonder if you guys can go back into the archives to see some of my work.”

Q: If you could go back 15 years and change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A: “A big one would be taking athletics and academics more seriously.”

Thank you for your time, Coach Agnew. We welcome you back to your alma mater. Best of luck this year and beyond for the Hurricanes football program. Go Canes!