If you’ve ever stepped into Atherton’s gym, there’s a good chance you’ve heard Mr. Derrick’s upbeat voice encouraging students to give their best efforts. Mr. Derricks is the P.E. teacher and track and field coach at Atherton. He has been teaching for over three decades and has been at Atherton since 2023.

“I’ve always been athletic myself, so it was natural for me to want to teach what I knew,” said Derricks. “I was always good at being able to demonstrate things athletically.”

Derricks has always had a heart for physical activity. Before coming to Atherton, Derricks attended University of Kentucky. Derricks ran track and cross country but was uncertain of what he wanted to be. With his passion for athletics, he started taking education classes.

“It took me probably three years to decide where I wanted to be,” said Derricks. “I started taking education classes. Specifically education as it related to physical activity, and I was really interested in it.”

Derricks teaches freshmen students and has many ways of motivating them towards success.

“Success for my students is when they work hard in class and I can tell they’re having fun by just seeing it on their face,” said Derricks. “There’s so many different games and sports that we play, almost everyone can find something that they like.”

For Derricks, teaching and coaching is more than just fitness. It’s about sharing a community with students who are provoked and excited to learn together.

“The students here at Atherton are great kids, and all of them are eager to learn, eager to participate, and mature, and it’s been a really great experience,” said Derricks. “I wouldn’t change anything about it.”