Young Educator Is on the Right Path

Keldrick Davis is young, well mannered, and professional. The Monticello resident was born and raised here, left to obtain his post-secondary education, then returned here to begin his career, and make an immediate impact on the community.

Upon graduating from Waycross Community Junior College and Thomas University with a degree in interdisciplinary studies in sports, he was back in Jasper County teaching physical education at the very same school (Jasper County Middle School jcms) he attended as a youth.

When asked what inspired him to begin his career in his hometown, he informed me that is was “who” rather than “what.” Dionka Jackson, now Jasper County Middle School principal but instructional teacher then, reached out to him before he graduated and that influenced him to give teaching in Monticello some thought.

This fall will be his fifth year teaching locally and coaching sports. Anyone who knows Keldrick, or knows of him, also knows that he is fond of sports while also being pretty competitive at many. His fondness dates back to his elementary days assisting the varsity Hurricane squads and competing in the recreation league.

“I have always loved sports, all kinds, but basketball is my passion,” he noted.

If you witnessed him play as a Hurricane 10 years ago then you know that basketball is indeed his forte. And quite honestly, if you witnessed him coach basketball this season you could infer the same.

“Coach Keldrick” led the 2018-2019 JCMS Hurricane basketball team to an undefeated conference season and the Piedmont Athletic Conference (PAC) title. Interestingly enough when he began with the school system five years ago, he assisted with the football program initially and it was not until after Rufus Whitlock led the 2015 middle school squad in an undefeated season and it’s first PAC title that Keldrick became involved with coaching middle school basketball.

“Winning the championship was a dream come true. I encouraged the boys to take it one game at a time with each win and to always stay humble,” he said of their journey to the title.

Keldrick said his message was always the same every week—remain coachable no matter what, believe in the system, work everyday, and practice hard. He said others told him before the season began that his squad had the talent to win it all; he was a believer too but focused on humility and hard work.

As a coach, he also set the example of grace under pressure by keeping his head calm and those of his players when situations and questionable calls plagued them.

Keldrick wants the parents, fans, and community to know that he is thankful for all of their support since his work began here and especially last season.

“I am really grateful for all of their (players) hard work and participation on a season well played.”

The middle school squad will relinquish five of their eighth grade players to the junior high ranks but knows his squad solid.

When Keldrick isn’t teaching or coaching, he enjoys time with his family. He and his significant other, Katoya, are parents to three—M.J., Kaliyah, and Kynsley. The quintet just recently returned from a fun-filled Disney vacation in Orlando.

He is the son of Marcie Ann Davis and the late Eddie Carl Davis and the grandson of the late Gertrude Thomas, Bernice Barron, Emma J. Davis, and the late Eddie Davis, Sr. Keldrick is a member of St. James A.M.E. Church and professes to being a Christian in all he does.

“I put God first in everything I do and then family next.”

When asked at age 28 what have been some of the biggest lessons that life has taught him thus far, Keldrick said that during his college years being on his own he grew up and came into his manhood. Overall, he’s learned never to take anything for granted because you never know what the future holds. He often thinks of what he was told growing up in his mother’s house—”just be you and don’t worry about the rest.”

He doesn’t really know where he will be in the next five, 10, 15 years but he likes to believe it could include coaching high school basketball maybe coaching in a professional league. But he does know what he wants for the here and now.

“At the end of the day the goal is to make a difference in the kid’s lives.”