Foreign language teacher Thomas Ruth

From playing for the Melbourne High School Bulldogs to coaching for the Dreyfoos Jaguars, French teacher Thomas Ruth has played soccer since his teen years which led him to become a coach for the sport. Mr. Ruth has coached the boys soccer team at Dreyfoos for over 20 years.

One of Mr. Ruth’s coaching philosophies on the field is his belief in the significance of meeting new people while a part of the team. 

“More important than anything, (you’re) making lasting friendships,” Mr. Ruth said. “I’m still friends with kids I played soccer with in high school.”

Encouraging his students to create those lifelong relationships, Mr. Ruth also enjoys the physical and emotional growth he gets to watch his students undergo.

“I see kids who can’t do five push ups and they’re very proud of the fact (that) they can do 30 afterwards.” Mr. Ruth said. “You’re showing them not to quit.”

Math teacher Joshua Millstein

Although it is his first year at Dreyfoos, math teacher Joshua Millstein coaches the cross-country and girls basketball team. Mr. Millstein has been teaching across Palm Beach County for about 13 years, beginning his coaching career at Okeeheelee Middle School.

Mr. Millstein came with an extensive background of coaching basketball for over ten years. However, coaching cross-country was a whole different sport than he had experience in. 

“The biggest help was probably my three senior runners, Nikolai (Dutkewych), Jaime (James Robinson), and Iliana (Beauchamp). They really helped me get into coaching (cross-country).”

Mr. Millstein gathered the support to begin coaching this new sport not only from his students, but the staff around have created a community Mr. Millstein appreciates. “The student body and the administration (are both) really good,” Mr. Millstein said. “Even though you hit challenges, the (environment) here is so positive it makes everything easier.”

School Monitor Kettia Nesbitt

Kettia Nesbitt is another recent addition to the school’s faculty as a monitor this year. Now, as the new cheerleading coach, Ms. Nesbitt takes what she learned in her past to plan for the future of the team.

“For the past twenty two years I’ve been at Lakewood Church of God, (where) we have a dance group and I manage(d) them for about 12 years,” Ms. Nesbitt says, “I have been involved in the dance ministry and (as) the dance coordinator.”

For Nesbitt, cheer and dance have been a part of her life for many years. She aims to incorporate her past experiences into her coaching students and show everyone what cheer means to her.

“Motivation is what we do,” Ms. Nesbitt says, “It’s time to cheer (with all) you got and get these people up on their feet excited because (of) the game.”