Alex Hall

Hall Aims to Inspire

New theology teacher Alex Hall adjusts to teaching at an all-girls school.

BY ELLIE STINGLEY CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF lex Hall walks into the gym filled with

Aroaring laughter and voices of over 300 teenage girls. Grey skirts and white polos fill the purple bleachers as the last students and teachers take their seats for the assembly, welcoming back sophomores, juniors and seniors. The occasional sweater is draped and tied in the same “preppy” fashion in which Hall’s striped bowtie sits securely in the collar of his monogrammed button-down. After teaching one year of theology at the all-boys Rockhurst High School, Hall mentally prepares himself for his first day of teaching all girls.

Schedules discussed and uniform regulations established, it’s time for new teachers to introduce themselves. Before Hall can announce his name into the microphone, cheers ensue.

“That first day was eye-opening and a little intimidating,” Hall said. “Not being able to talk for 25 seconds because the Senior class [was] cheering was a new experience.”

Having a fresh, young face at the school was exciting for students such as senior Haley Buckley.

“I think the fact that he is a guy had some impact on why everyone was so excited because we don’t have that many guy teachers at Sion,” Buckley said. “Also, the fact that he [is] younger made us feel like we could relate more in his class.”

To start off the school year in his Faith-Filled Life class, Hall showed “Freedom Writers,” a movie about a young, new teacher, Mrs. G.

Based on a true story, the film showed Mrs. G’s initial struggle to earn her students’ trust. Similarly, Hall, a young new teacher, began his job at a new school, in hopes to earn the trust and respect of his students, and, according to him, in hopes of making a positive impact in their lives. * * *

The green 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier leaves Sion and slides into the parking spot among hundreds of cars in the Rockhurst High School parking lot. A St. Louis Cardinals flag waves from the back window. Hall steps out in his khaki slacks and white T-shirt, which sat beneath the monogrammed buttondown he wore that day at Sion.

A royal blue bandana pushes back his strawberry blond hair. After grabbing a pair of running shoes, T-shirt and shorts from the back seat of his car, he rushes into the school and comes out minutes later, shoelaces tied and athletic shorts replacing the khakis. Hall is now Rockhurst Cross Country Coach Hall.

Hall and the other coaches herd over 90 Rockhurst runners onto the sidewalk and begin a team meeting. Head Coach Mike Dierks robotically takes role, and Hall uses this as a chance to greet the runners. With a high five, fist bump or pat on the back, he casually acknowledges half of the team with a smile.

“Coach Hall is a great coach and is really fun to be around,” Rockhurst freshman Mitch Mckenzie said.

Dierks provides the runners with tips for the next meet, reminds them to hydrate in this hundred-degree weather and dismisses them to their respective assistant coaches to discuss the workout for the day. In the sea of boys, Hall’s group finds their way to the Chevrolet where he sits casually on the back hood, one leg bent, foot against the license plate.

Hall directs a casual “how’s it going?” toward each of the 10 runners, but eventually interrupts the conversation with a reminder that a workout is soon to follow. He announces today’s workout: a four-mile base run. In regards to this week’s meet, Hall gives the runners some advice.

“Have a goal that you can control, and have a spot where you want to be,” Hall said.

After the brief team meeting, the team takes off running and Hall soon follows. Unlike many coaches, he frequently runs with his team, giving him more opportunity to interact with them.

“I like to go running with the guys because I can encourage them to keep running if they feel like they’re about to quit,” Hall said. “ It’s kind of a unique opportunity where I get to help them grow as runners and as people all at one time.” making a positive impact in their lives. * * *

Mrs. G shows she cares about her students. Hall writes the words carefully on the whiteboard as the senior girls discuss the character of Mrs. G.

As the class discusses how Mrs. G makes a positive impact on the lives of her students, phrases such as “wants them to succeed” appear on the board in Expo marker. Similar to Mrs. G, Hall says his goal in teaching and coaching is to help teenagers realize their full potential whether talking about faith in the classroom or running down Ward Parkway.

“A lot of my teachers in high school are people I remember as having a really big impact on who I am as a person,” Hall said, “The things I learned from them had a big role in shaping who I am and some part of me just thought I would like to do that for somebody else.”

The next morning, he will drive his green Chevrolet back up Wornall Road and open his door, striving to relate, impact and inspire.

The Hunt for Blue October It’s time to jump on the Royals’ Bandwagon as the winning continues. could finally change. The Royals are currently one game behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the American it. Royals Manager Ned Yost has called out Kansas City fans before to come out to the games, regardless of game time, night of the week, or temperaBY SYDNEY MANNING League Central. ture. He has been waiting for this breakout season SPORTS COLUMNIST If this stays true, it will mean playoff dreams since he started managing the team four years ago. becoming a reality for this deserving team. And where are the fans?

This city is used to I know this team. Every summer growing Sion girls have always made their presence disappointment. up, I’d always find myself in the nosebleed seats known at games through social media, but what

We’ve grown ac- at Kauffman Stadium. I didn’t know any players, I about during the actual game? Are you a cheering customed to losing didn’t know any rules of the sport, but I knew that fan that sits through all nine innings, or just anothrecords and short seasons. this hometown team is what came to mind when er occupied seat? Our postseason hopes are someone said baseball. Sion, I challenge you to learn something about minimal, and the last thing we’re expecting at the For my generation, no one team has had a con- the Royals this season. I challenge you to wear your end of the season is a pennant. sistent winning record worthy of national attention, royal blue T-shirt whenever and wherever you can.

But not this year. Everything is different. This until the Sporting Kansas City attraction. But even I challenge you to keep track of the nightly game season is unlike any I’ve experienced in my life- after all that we are still considered a flyover state. scores and learn a player’s name and position, other time; this season is like 1985. This could be the time to break out of the base- than Alex Gordon. It’s not hard, and 20 years down

For 28 years, the Kansas City Royals never ball mold this city has sat in for 28 years. Now is the the road when we’re reminiscing about winning the made the playoffs; that’s longer than any other team time to show the national audience that we are not 2014 World Series, you can say you remember that in Major League Baseball. But with how strong just another cowtown team with a losing record. season, that hunt for blue October, that championthey are coming into the end of regular season, that All of this can only start if we, as fans, make ship team that no one saw coming. LE JOURNAL ISSUE 127