Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for July 9, 2006 WELCOME DION REAL

Still catching up on the local news, having been out of town last week attending the NEA Representative Assembly in Orlando, Florida.

The June 29th edition of the Cairo Citizen carried the following article on the new Cairo High School boys' basketball coach...

Arkansas native named new basketball coach at Cairo

A new Cairo High School basketball coach was employed at a meeting of the Cairo Board of Education Monday.

Dion Real, an Arkansas native, was named to mi me vacancy created by the retirement of Larry Baldwin.

""Real comes highly recommended as a student of the game and as a teacher," said Superintendent "I'm extremely impressed with his enthusiasm and high standards."

Real will come to Cairo from Earl, Ark., where his team last year finished in the final four of the state playoffs. He was honored as one of the state's top coaches last year, and coached a state all-star team.

Cairo had previously hired Sam Weaver, a well-known former college coach. But the job became vacant again this summer when Weaver got an opportunity to return to the college coaching ranks.

"We wish Sam Weaver all the best; he got an opportunity that had to be pursued," Whitiedge said. "But in Coach Real, we found someone a whole lot like him who will bring a lot to our school and community."

Real, who will likely teach in the alternative program "comes recommended as a very good teacher," Whitiedge said.

Also employed during the Monday meeting was Dan Anderson, retired regional school superintendent. Anderson will work on a part-time contract as federal and state grants coordinator for the district.

The board re-hired six teachers who had previously been released due to budget constraints.

The board approved an agreement with Pepsi Mid America which will provide its products and also give the school new scoreboards for the high school gymnasium.

The board also adopted a wellness policy to promote healthy living.

A similar article from the June 30th edition of the Southern Illinoisan...

Real taking over for Baldwin at Cairo

By Todd Hefferman, The Southern

Cairo High School hired Richard Dion Real as its new boys basketball coach earlier this month, according to Cairo Superintendent Gary Whitledge.

Real led Earle (Ark.) High School to the Class 2A Final Four last season, losing to the eventual runner-up. Whitledge said Real has three years of head coaching experience and has also led 17-and-under, 16-and-under and 15-and-under AAU squads. He will teach social studies at the alternative education school and replaced former Southern Illinois University assistant men's basketball coach Sam Weaver.

Weaver accepted the Pilots' job earlier this year but then turned around and went to Henderson State in Arkansas. Weaver was one of Rich Herrin's top assistants with the Salukis in the early 1990s.

The position became open when coach Larry Baldwin retired after over 12 years and 200 career victories.