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During his 30-year career as a social studies teacher, coach and Black Student Union (BSU) moderator, Bishop O’Dowd High School’s Tony Green has impacted thousands of students.
Green was honored for his work at a faculty meeting held on March 15, with his wife, Assistant Director of Student Activities Marguerite Green, speaking on his behalf.
“For 30 years, whether it was in Room 213, on the football field, or on the track, Tony has made a difference in the lives of students,” she said. It’s estimated that Green has taught and/or coached 9,000 students since he’s been at O’Dowd.
During his tenure, Green developed and taught several new classes – including African American History, Black Nationalist Movement – as well as Geo-History, U.S. History and Government. He also started the BSU, which plans and presents the annual Black History Month Assembly, and serves as moderator of Brothers Making a Change (BMAC), a mentorship program that seeks to set a positive foundation for college.
On the field, Green has served as head coach for track and cross country, junior varsity football coach, and assistant women’s basketball coach.
From 1986-2007, the women’s track team went undefeated under Green, and one of his teams won a national championship. He’s been named National Coach of the Year, State Coach of the Year, Section Coach of the Year and League Coach of the Year.
Recently, Adam Herndon ’92 returned to campus as a guest speaker in Green’s African American History class.
One of Green’s former students, Herndon admitted that he didn’t take his studies seriously and Green wasn’t having it. “Mr. Green had the nerve to call my mother!” Herndon said. “He told her I was underachieving and not working as hard as I could.”
That phone call, though it infuriated Herndon at the time, served as a wake-up call. “He believed in me, and tried to push me to achieve more,” he said. Today Herndon is an award-winning insurance agent and author.
It’s not surprising that Green went into teaching, as he comes from a family of educators and always respected the teachers and mentors who were so influential in his life.
Green says the most rewarding aspect of his work is playing a part in molding the future of the country. “My proudest moments have been making students and athletes believe in themselves. The students we touch continually have a real impact on the city, country and world,” he said.