By R.L. Harvey - Special to Today in Fort Smith
Buffalo Valley Public School District, located in Latimer County is making waves in the education sector.
Serving a little over 200 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, the
district is proud of its diverse student body, the majority of whom are of Native American heritage.
In a recent interview, Jr. High/High School Principal and Athletic Director Steve Haddox shared his insights about the school’s mission and the exciting developments taking place.
“We are proud of what is taking place at BV!” Haddox exclaimed.
The school boasts a large Native American student-athlete population and a significant number of Native American staff members.
“Our goal was to assemble a team of energetic and knowledgeable coaches who could
instill the characteristics in our athletes that would enable them to succeed in whatever they decide to do as they move on and continue their education or athletic career,” Haddox said.
The community’s response to these initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive. “Buffalo
Valley has always been extremely supportive of our athletic programs but this new staff has brought in an energy that is contagious. Everyone is excited for this coming school year,” Haddox shared.
The school’s coaching staff, all of whom are Native American, are committed to promoting a stronger understanding and appreciation of Native American culture.
“This staff will have the opportunity to advance an appreciation of all cultures, especially Native American, by setting an example of what it means to be successful and modeling what we want for our students,” Haddox explained.
Despite the challenges that come with being new coaches, the staff is confident and determined. “These coaches work so well together that failure isn’t something they see as a possibility. As the old saying goes, ‘we win or we learn.’ You only fail if you quit. This staff embodies that philosophy,” Haddox said.
Looking ahead, the school’s long-term goal is to build a program that people will want to return to.
“We are building a future that people will want to return to. We build a program by building
people,” Haddox stated.
At the heart of Buffalo Valley’s elementary school is Principal Anna Pate. Her dedication to
fostering a positive learning environment is evident in every aspect of the school. She believes in the unique potential of each student and works tirelessly to ensure they have the resources to thrive.
Principal Pate also supports her team of dedicated teachers, understanding that their growth directly impacts student success. Under her leadership, the elementary school has become a place where values of hard work, respect, and kindness are instilled in students, shaping them for a promising future.
Superintendent Lyndon Howze shared his thoughts on the school’s role in the community and its future plans.
“Buffalo Valley School is a big part of the community, and we look within that community when we start our hiring process,” Howze said.
The school aims to hire staff who will embrace the community and become a part of it for a long time. During the recent hiring process, they brought on board coaches who are already deeply rooted in the community.
Support for the new coaches comes in the form of communication and availability.
“We have a veteran administration that is full of knowledge and wisdom and who share common goals and vision,” Howze explained.
The administration provides support for the coaches, especially when they face challenges related to their new roles.
Looking ahead, Buffalo Valley School has ambitious plans.
“Long term, Buffalo Valley School wants to have a program that lifts students up, involves every student that has interest and creates interest in those that may be on the fence,” Howze said.
The school aims to build a program that teaches integrity and hard work, and that makes everyone proud when they look at all the students and coaches that are a part of it.
To engage the community with the new coaching staff, the school plans to prioritize
communication.
The staff includes Girls Head Coach Kelli Griffith, Boys Coaches Shane Fry and Aaron Lloyd, HS Girls Asst. All Sports Coaches Madison Wheeler & Ashley Johnson, and HS/JH Boys Baseball/Basketball Asst. Coach Jace Hunter.
With its commitment to the community and its focus on building a strong program, Buffalo
Valley School continues to make strides in providing a quality education for its students.
Superintendent Howze further elaborated on the values that Buffalo Valley School aims to instill in its athletes. “We aim to instill in our athletes the values of Hard work, Faith, Family, Community, Integrity, Honesty, Hope, and Pride,” Howze said.
These values form the foundation of the school’s athletic program and are integral to the development of its student-athletes.
Howze also spoke about the strong sense of community at Buffalo Valley.
“One thing about the Buffalo Valley community is our love for our kids. We embrace our students’ successes as our own,” he said.
This sentiment reflects the supportive environment that the school strives to create for its
students.
The school also prides itself on its cultural inclusivity.
“We have never had any strife or disregard over cultural differences, and if we ever do, I believe strongly that the Buffalo Valley community would address that swiftly,” Howze stated.
Coach Ashley Johnson, a Buffalo Valley native and a new addition to the coaching staff, shared her excitement about joining the team and her vision for the students.
“Joining the coaching staff here at Buffalo Valley was an easy decision for me. Having grown up in Buffalo Valley, I was eager to return to the valley and help the kids who watched me play and cheered me on when they were little,” Johnson said.
She is looking forward to helping the students learn and fulfill their dreams, just as she did
when she was a student.
Johnson also expressed her enthusiasm about coaching her youngest sister in both sports as she finishes out her high school career. “I am also getting to coach under some great people that know a lot of the game!” she added.
Johnson’s vision for the team is to come together as a whole and learn to
play as a team. She believes that with a younger team in both sports and great seniors to look up to and set examples, this is a great team to start building a program with.
She also emphasized the importance of creating a family environment and fostering good
communication both on and off the field. “Being able to come together as a family and having a family environment. Being able to communicate on the field, court and off of it.
Learning respect for other people and the game itself and having good sportsmanship,” Johnson explained.
Shane Fry, the JH basketball/baseball and HS Golf coach at Buffalo Valley, is a testament to the school’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent. A Buffalo Valley native and a 2017 graduate of the school, Fry is thrilled to be back in his hometown, coaching the next generation of athletes.
“I have lived in Buffalo Valley my entire life and graduated from Buffalo Valley in 2017. I was extremely blessed to have the opportunity to return to my hometown and coach,” Fry said.
His goal is to be the best role model he can be, constantly setting the best example and teaching the athletes to work as a cohesive unit.
Fry is also spearheading the new golf program at Buffalo Valley.
“Golf is a new program at Buffalo Valley. Right now my expectation is to get more students familiar with this game,” he explained.
His goal for the upcoming year is to instill a sense of integrity and strong work ethic in the
athletes, helping them develop qualities that will make them successful individuals both on and off the field.
When it comes to dealing with conflicts within the team, Fry believes in the power of
accountability and forgiveness.
“When dealing with conflicts within the team, there are two key words that play a big part in resolving the issues. Accountability and forgiveness,” he said.
He believes that teaching the athletes to hold themselves accountable for their mistakes will equip them with valuable life skills.
Aaron Lloyd, the Boys Basketball and Softball Coach at Buffalo Valley Public Schools, brings a unique perspective to the coaching staff. As a member of the Choctaw Nation, he is deeply committed to instilling the core values of Faith, Family, and Culture in his teams.
“What motivated me to join the coaching staff at Buffalo Valley Public Schools was the outstanding community. From the administration to the teachers and other coaches, I was eager to work alongside some amazing people,” Lloyd said.
He saw the type of programs that the administration was striving to build and
wanted to be a part of something special.
Lloyd believes that teams should be like a family (or a tribe) and all work together to support
and encourage one another in accomplishing their goals.
“I know that a large number of our students are Native American and I think it is important to instill in them the importance of being a united group working towards a common goal,” he explained.
His expectations for his teams are high. He wants them to play with integrity and accountability each day, strive for excellence on the field, court, and in the classroom, and develop a great sense of sportsmanship.
“I hope to instill a great sense of sportsmanship and accountability in our teams, as
well as helping each player develop into the best student athlete that they can be,” Lloyd said.
As a first-year coach, Lloyd understands that he has a lot to learn when it comes to building
rapport with his players. He wants his players to be able to communicate with him while also
understanding that they are all working to achieve the same things as a team. He also emphasizes the importance of academics.
“I believe that it is important for student athletes to understand that the word 'student' comes first. At Buffalo Valley, I have seen how important it is that our student athletes
are not only successful on the field/court but in the classroom as well,” he said.
Finally, Lloyd believes that the teams can honor Native American heritage each day by the way they conduct themselves and by representing their tribes and school in a way that makes them proud.
He also thinks it would be a great idea for the teams to participate in different cultural events that honor their tribes and help educate the student athletes.
Jace Hunter, a Buffalo Valley alumnus and a new addition to the coaching staff, brings a unique perspective to the team. His journey from being a student at Buffalo Valley to becoming a coach is a testament to his commitment to the school and its students.
“I attended high school at BV and always wanted to return as a coach. The staff welcomed me with open arms and I instantly felt back at home,” Hunter said.
His connection to the school and the community is evident in his enthusiasm to
contribute to the athletic program.
Hunter has clear expectations for the season. “My expectations for this season are to become 1% better every day and start building a culture these kids can be proud of,” he explained. His goal is to foster continuous improvement and build a culture of pride and accomplishment.
Above all, Hunter emphasizes the importance of instilling values in the students. “The values I’d like to instill in these kids are simple. Be great people and treat everyone with kindness and respect. Regardless of what goes on during the season never let it change how you treat people,” he said.
And so, as the sun sets over the plains of Oklahoma, the Buffalo Valley Public School District
stands as a beacon of hope and progress. With a coaching staff as diverse as the landscape itself, they’re not just teaching sports, they’re shaping futures. They’re not just building teams, they’re building a community.
And let’s not forget, they’re not just playing games, they’re playing the long game - for
every student’s success.
In the words of an old Native American proverb, “We do not inherit the earth from our
ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” At Buffalo Valley, they’re not just borrowing, they’re
investing - in every student, every day.
So here’s to Buffalo Valley, where the buffalo roam, the students soar, and the coaches… well, they coach, inspire, and occasionally, they even make a decent pot of coffee.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about winning games, it’s about winning hearts, minds, and maybe, just maybe, a few school trophies along the way.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in the Buffalo Valley saga – the 2024-2025 school year, where the only thing certain is that there will be more sweat, more cheers, and more unforgettable moments.
After all, this isn’t just a school story, it’s a story of a community coming together, one game at a time.
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