SAN ANTONIO – After leaving San Antonio for college and a career, a local coach and teacher is now back “home” here in San Antonio, inspiring young people. Charles Lee is not only the head boys basketball coach and physical education teacher at Legacy Traditional Schools, he is also the athletic director there and he is KSAT’s Educator of the Month.
Lee was a standout athlete at Highlands High School and went on to play college basketball at Howard University. He also coached at the college level for about 12 years.
Coach Lee has been at Legacy Traditional Schools for the last 10 years now.
“It’s really a blessing to be able to come back and kind of work in the area where you kind of grew up,” said Charles Lee, Legacy Traditional Schools athletic director, head boys basketball coach and physical education teacher. “And, to be able to touch those lives and kind of give them that same drive and passion that you had when you were a kid.”
Our KSAT team surprised Coach Lee with the Educator of the Month award for October. While he was surprised, he told us that teaching kids is the “real reward.”
“We don’t get in this profession for awards,” said Lee. “We get into this profession to change lives and this job solely is a job where I’ve been able to change lives, provide opportunities for kids to be successful and that’s more than a paycheck to me.”
“I think it’s well deserved 100 percent because he’s had such a huge impact on my life,” said Matthew Flores, a senior at Legacy Traditional Schools. “I’ve known him since fifth grade, seven years. He’s always been there for me.”
Coach Lee grew up on the south side of San Antonio and he says he wants his students to know that they can work through any obstacle and he hopes what they learn now will stay with them beyond school.
“I tell them, no matter what, you have people in your life that you come across, they care about you, listen to them, work hard,” said Lee. “And, along the way, people will help you if you want the help, no matter where you come from, no matter what type of situation you’re in at that time.”