Jake Moore, who guided the Perryville High track and field and cross country programs from relative obscurity to state supremacy, has stepped down from his teaching and coaching responsibilities to accept an administration position in Chester County, Pa. Moore will be an assistant principal at Kennett Middle School in Landenberg, part of the Kennett Consolidated School District. He got a contingency offer several days ago but his Pennsylvania certification had not been processed. The official offer came yesterday at 4 p.m. and he accepted immediately. Moore informed the Perryville team this morning following the first cross country practice of the season. He spent eight years at Perryville. "I don't know if there's truly ever a right time," Moore said Tuesday night. "If I left after my second year, my eighth year, or my 14th year, it was never going to be an easy thing. Every year my vision of education grows wider. I feel a little bit of a calling to help teachers and help kids."
Moore started taking graduate classes in 2009 and was able to finish his studies despite teaching and coaching three sports a year. He completed his 240-hour internship at Perryville last fall under the guidance of principal Chip Helm. Moore says he plans to utilize the same style that made him a successful teacher and coach. "I'm going to be there to serve other people," he said. "I've always held myself to a higher standard than anyone else has for me and I believe that's a value that will serve me well and help me make a positive impact." He's not sure what his longterm future holds. "For the last eight years, I've tried to be the best teacher and coach I could be," said Moore. "My goal now is to be the best assistant principal I can be. In five or six years, I'll have a better understanding of where I want to my career to go. For now, I want to get every experience I can." Moore will make the 45-minute commute to Landenberg from his home in Perryville. His wife, Raissa, also a teacher and coach, will remain at Perryville High. "This is our home," Jake Moore said. "We love it here." He plans to continue working the chains for Perryville home football games and help out with local meets. The cross country and track and field teams are left in capable hands. Raissa Moore will lead the cross country program with help from Buddy Clements, a former Perryville runner who also competed at Slippery Rock, Moore's alma mater. Both Raissa Moore and Travon Morgan return for outdoor and indoor track after having already played huge roles in previous years. "Raissa and Travon are the best 1-2 duo in the UCBAC and one of the best 1-2 duos in the state," Jake Moore said. "No doubt the program is in good hands. They are knowledgeable and on top of that they care about the kids." Under Jake Moore's leadership, Perryville captured state boys outdoor track and field champions in 2012 and 2013 – the first team state titles for any Perryville sports squad. The boys won the state cross country title in 2013. Moore began his coaching career in his first year at Perryville as a cross country assistant to Aaron Kostecki. He oversaw a running club that winter before taking over the boys track and field team in the spring. He coached all three sports every year since. In that time, 10 different Panthers won an individual state title and Perryville girls won three relay state titles over the last two outdoor seasons. "It has really meant something to Raissa and I to be trusted and allowed to be here and coach three teams," he said. "It's always been a privilege to be at Perryville. I haven't done Perryville a favor. They've done me a favor by allowing me to be there. I'll miss it tremendously." Moore says he also enjoyed teaching in the classroom. "I'll miss everything," he said. "I love Spanish class. It's a place to create and own your learning. I loved seeing kids develop an ability to communicate and have fun with the language. Ultimately, seeing them accomplish something meaningful is awesome." He will still be putting his knowledge to good use. The Kennett school district has a high percentage (39 percent) of Hispanic population. Moore credits the Perryville community with helping him along the way. "The things I've done are possible because so many people saw potential in me," Moore says, citing fellow coaches Tim and Debbie Myers, John LoPresto, and Kostecki. "And I've had the two best principals (Pete Callahan and Helm) that anyone could ask for." Moore, a Harrison City, Pa. native, said Perryville High was the perfect landing spot after he graduated from Slippery Rock in 2007. "There's absolutely no better place to have spent the first part of my career," Moore said. "It's truly an outstanding place. The collegiality is unmatched. Everyone will be your friend and do anything they can to help you. I'm sad to be leaving. I'm having a hard time focusing on the excitement of the new position. It's exciting but difficult nonetheless." Following the official announcement of Moore's departure, Kostecki and a current and former Perryville athlete shared their thoughts. Perryville senior Allison Morris: "Mr. Moore has been great. I'm sad to see him go but he deserves (his new job). His silliness and goofiness will be missed. Who else would hide inside a tree and yell at you as you ran by? But he could be serious, too. He held us all together." Aaron Kostecki: "Oh my goodness. I don't even know where to start. As a teacher and a coach, Jake has revolutionized the building. His heart and passion, and he's got this energy that is so positive and that kids need. It's a huge loss for us. It's amazing that someone who has been here that short of a time made that much impact." Former Panther athlete Justin Harreld: "Mr. Moore has impacted my life not only as an athlete and student, but as a young man. His natural positive, charismatic personality makes everyone feel welcome on his teams and in his classroom. Walking down the hallways of Perryville High, you could guarantee a high-five or a 'how was your day, can't wait to see you at practice' from him. Spending all four years of my high school career with having him as my head coach was the best time for me as an athlete. He knows everything there is to know about running and is very passionate about it. Alongside his wife, Coach Moore served as more than a coach to me. He was, and still is, a huge role model for me on and off the track." Comments are closed.
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