Coach inspires healthy living
Coach Freddie Harris, a physical education teacher at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, says his favorite memory of his time at Dallas ISD has been seeing his first group of pre-K students graduate to middle school. 
Having taught them from a young age, their transition was a heartfelt moment filled with tears and pride, he said. Harris values the personal relationships he can build as a PE teacher, mainly the opportunity to support and influence students on a one-on-one basis.
Harris, who has been a Dallas ISD team member for 10 years, is originally from Mississippi and studied in Carrollton. He chose to remain a PE teacher after earning a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lamar University, because of the personal connection and impact he can have on students over the more formal role of a principal.
“I like to have the opportunity to be myself and the ability to grow with the district if I choose to,” said Harris.
One of Harris’s significant accomplishments is becoming a master-level teacher after starting his career through the alternative certification program. He is also proud of his involvement in the “Kids Teaching Kids Activity Challenge.”
The program is a 21-day challenge in which students teach other students about healthy eating. The initiative is a partnership with Medical City that encourages students to engage in healthy habits and creative activities. Normally, the challenge includes cooking videos or cooking recipes of kids teaching kids. This year, the challenge was extended to physical activity with different categories. Harris chose the rhythm category as part of the physical activity.
During COVID, Harris started a YouTube channel and uploaded workout videos because he had experience making videos. So, for the 21-day challenge, his students helped him come up with a video idea, which he submitted. Click here to watch the video.
“We are working to come up with a challenge for the whole district, so stay tuned,” Harris said.
In addition to participating in the 21-day challenge, Harris has organized an annual Turkey run to help students and families have a wonderful thanksgiving. Click here to watch last year’s Turkey Run at Blanton Elementary.
“Now it’s a yearly tradition and we get Turkeys donated from different stakeholders in the community & friends.” said Harris.
He lives by the mantra “Iron sharpens iron, as one man sharpens another” and believes that “dreams are just dreams until you apply action, and then they become a reality.” Beyond his teaching role, Harris is also a member of the USA bobsled team, aspiring to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Through his work, Harris emphasizes the importance of putting love and effort into everything, believing that the energy you give is what you receive in return.
