While many teachers are busy this week decorating their rooms for the new school year, Ladarius Malone doesn’t know yet how his will be adorned.

Maybe with basketballs, he  said.

Malone, one of 29 new teachers in the Lauderdale County School District, will be teaching eighth grade special education and coaching basketball at Southeast Middle School this year.  While he is new to teaching, Malone is not new to the district or the school – he actually went to all three Southeast Lauderdale schools.

Malone said he can’t wait for the first day of school to arrive on Monday, because he feels like he’s starting school all over again. He’s also excited to see some of the players he’s coached.

A passion for helping

Malone said he has always had a passion for helping children. While attending the University of Southern Mississippi, he changed his career plans from speech-language pathology to education, when he was encouraged to be a teacher by others. 

“I’m in love with the teaching and the kids,” Malone said.

After college, in 2015, Malone returned from Hattiesburg and started to substitute teach. That led to him being offered a job as a tutor, then a physical education assistant.  

A lot of support

Malone said the process of becoming a teacher has made him nervous, but he’s had a lot of support along the way. Help has come from Southeast Middle School Principal Brittney Chaney – who said she is thrilled to have him at the school –  and from some of Malone’s former teachers.

His ninth grade teacher, Vacheta Mitchell, has become his mentor. Malone said he spoke with her when he was deciding if he should become a teacher.

“She’s been in my corner since day one, she would send me things and say, ‘Baby, it’s going to be okay,’ ” Malone said.

Mitchell said when Malone was a student, he showed his potential. She first taught him in her English I class and remembers his writing skills. 

She added that, as an African-American educator, he can especially help to inspire that group of students.

“He understands the importance of being a role model,” Mitchell said.

The ultimate challenge

Malone sees similarities in teaching and coaching, saying that he finds a reward in seeing kids improve from the beginning to the end of the year. As a basketball coach, he uses character building skills with his players, encouraging them to make good choices.

As he becomes a better teacher, Malone looks forward to developing his own teaching style. His long-term goal is to become an administrator in the next 15 years.

Malone said he became a teacher because he wanted to have a new challenge in his life and educating youth is the ultimate challenge.

“It’s not about money in this profession,” he said. “I feel like if I can impact someone’s life.”