As
far back as she can remember, Patty Clancy wanted to do two things with
her life: become an elementary school teacher and a basketball coach.
For the last 17 years, she has done just that, but it took her until
this year to do both at her alma mater, Scott County School District 2.
“Thinking
back to when I was little, I don’t remember ever wanting to be anything
but an elementary teacher and a basketball coach,” Clancy said. “I’ve
always loved school and playing basketball.”
Clancy’s love for
basketball started early. She was in first grade when she started
tagging along with her sister to go to her sister’s basketball practice,
where their dad was the coach.
“My dad and uncle played
basketball, so I guess it’s in my blood,” Clancy said. “...I just tagged
along to her practice and immediately had a love for the game. There’s
not just one thing I love about the game, it’s all aspects of the game.”
From that time forward, Clancy grew up wanting to become a basketball player.
“I
grew up during the huge Warriorette era when every girl wanted to be a
Warriorette and play for Donna Cheatham. I went to every camp from
first-grade through high school,” Clancy said. “Donna Cheatham inspired
me to be the best basketball and the best person I could be.”
Clancy
focused on her basketball skills to the point that became a varsity
starter all four years at Scottsburg High School. She is the second
leading scorer for SHS with 1,533 points, and she earned several scoring
records and rebounding records during her time at SHS.
Clancy was
also part of the SHS track team, where she qualified for state three of
the four years she was involved. She holds two track records in the
100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash.
Still, basketball was her
passion. After high school, Clancy played basketball at Ball State
University, where she played all four years and scored 1,029 career
points.
While at Ball State, Clancy worked on her education degree, so she could be in front of the classroom.
“I’ve
never wanted to be anything else. I wanted to become a teacher, so I
could make learning fun. I want to teach students to be creative, take
chances, and let them know that it’s okay to make a mistake. I wanted to
be a teacher, so my students could have someone to admire and look up
to,” Clancy said. “I wanted to become a teacher, so I could make a
difference in someone’s life.”
One of Clancy’s inspirations for becoming a teacher is Beverly Gullion, Clancy’s fourth-grade teacher at SCSD2.
“She
was my fourth-grade teacher, and I remember having so much fun in her
class,” Clancy said. “Mrs. Gullion was very hands-on. We did a lot of
interactive activities and a lot of projects. he made learning fun!”
After
college, Clancy worked in Fort Wayne until she took another teaching
and coaching position at Madison Consolidated Schools. Throughout her
time at another school district, she still managed to find a Scottsburg
connection.
“I always admired [Donna Cheatham]. I had the chance
to coach with Donna Cheatham at Southwestern High School during
2000-2004 seasons. I learned so much from her, and I feel I am the coach
I am today because of her,” Clancy said.
For a few years, Clancy
took time off from coaching to finish her master’s degree. Then, an
opportunity opened up for her to coach at Scottsburg.
“In 2008, I
started coaching seventh-grade. I’ve coached seventh-grade every year
since then but one year. I really enjoy coaching seventh-grade. I feel
it’s really the best age to coach. There’s just so much to teach them,”
Clancy said. “However, I would consider coaching high school again if I
had the opportunity.”
As she was working for another school
district but coaching at Scottsburg Middle School, Clancy made another
connection that eventually brought her back to teach at SCSD2. Clancy
began coaching Paige Barrett, who is currently on the Warriorette
basketball team and a junior at SHS. Barrett is the daughter of Tiffany
Barrett, who is now the principal at Vienna-Finley Elementary School.
“I
coached her daughter, Paige, in seventh-grade, and that’s when Tiffany
and I became friends,” Clancy said. “Over the past few years, Tiffany
and I have had many discussions about me applying for a position with
SCSD2 but none of the positions were ever the right ones.”
Then,
the right and the perfect job became available, and VFES Principal
Tiffany Barrett did not give up on asking her friend, Clancy, about
applying.
“I received a phone call from Tiffany Barrett, and she
informed me of a possible opening at Vienna-Finley. I have always
admired Tiffany as a person and as an administrator, so I knew this
would be a great opportunity for me.”
This school year with the
right job and the right time, Clancy returned to teach and to coach back
in Scottsburg after all these years. She joins the rest of her family
at SCSD2 as her husband, Jason teaches at SHS and coaches junior varsity
basketball and her son and daughter attend SCSD2 schools.
“I’m
not exactly sure why the timing was finally right,” Clancy said about
returning to SCSD2 to teach. “It was just the right position and the
perfect opportunity for me to join SCSD2.”
Clancy’s commitment to
her lifelong dreams and goals inspires others to pursue their
aspirations. At Scott County School District 2, Clancy’s story is our
story. Your story matters. You matter.