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Mark Dotson

Coach, Teacher and Inspiration

by Lucy Worley

April 3, 2017

Mark Dotson

Mark Dotson

Mark Dotson

Mark Dotson

Mark Dotson has been a part of the TTUISD family for 23 years, teaching online physical education. He brings expertise and passion from a career in coaching, to an online platform for students around the world. Mark has had many adventures over the course of his life, from starting new businesses to travel. However, inspiring students to live healthy lives is the adventure Mark has poured his life into.

With all that being said, it might come as a surprise that Mark was not always so sure about a future as an educator.

“Growing up with parents who were both teachers, I wanted to try something else at first,” Mark said. Education must have been in his blood since he ended up receiving his bachelor's degree in all-level physical education from Abilene Christian University in 1982. After graduating, Mark started out teaching tennis at a country club, then began coaching football, basketball and track in Alpine, Texas.

Mark and his family also spent time in Odessa and Borger, finally settling in Lubbock, Texas where Mark spent most of his career. In addition to teaching with TTUISD he also served as the tennis coach at Lubbock High School for 19 years.

Mark continues to teach P.E. with TTUISD since the flexibility of it keeps him in-step with his not so “relaxed” version of retirement.

“Now that I am not teaching full time, I am exploring a lot of things I've always had an interest in. I have gotten into real estate and also own cattle. I know a lot of people call this sort of thing being a “venture-capitalist,” but I like to think of myself as an “adventure-capitalist,” said Mark.

Along with these new interests, Mark has also been doing more traveling. But not in the sense you might think.

“I have gotten to travel and see a lot of places over the course of my life, so at this point I figured if I was going to keep traveling, I wanted to help people while doing it,” Mark said. Since leaving coaching full-time, Mark has worked closely with ministries in Thailand and Brazil who are helping rescue girls out of the sex-trafficking industry.

Even with these new endeavors, Mark has chosen to stay with TTUISD, teaching part-time. The rising trend of online education is just exciting enough to keep Mark wondering what will develop next.

“I have really enjoyed teaching for TTUISD and believe the future of online education will continue to grow. More and more people are going online for degrees and certifications – I see this trend going the same way for kindergarten through 12th grade education,” said Mark.

He also expressed excitement for some new physical education opportunities TTUISD is launching. “I am excited to see students try our new independent study for physical education. Students will be able to pick a sport they personally enjoy and get credit for it. It is things like this, that show me online learning really does fill a void in many student's lives as it removes obstacles for everyone to be able to achieve,” said Mark.

Cari Moye, one of the principals at TTUISD, commented, “Mark is always willing to go the extra mile when it comes to student success. He is flexible and willing to help each and every student. He is upbeat and a pleasure to be around.”

Mark is the first to admit teaching often leaves one feeling less than upbeat.

“To be honest, I have given up a few times throughout my career as an educator. It is hard work, and there is a cost that is paid when you choose this profession, one that few people will ever see,” Mark said.

There was no secret to success that Mark shared, but he did have this encouragement for fellow educators, “Stick with things, follow through, and stay with it.”