We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Theresa Morris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Theresa below.
Theresa, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Being a public educator for the past 29 years, I was able to create a experiential education program within a middle school and high school. These were non-traditional programs focusing on the development of EQ (Emotional Intelligence) verses IQ. Taking kids into the backcountry and teaching outdoor education skills allowed me to teach environmental ethics, how to play safely in the backcountry and, as a result, I saw genuine growth in the lives of students. Creating the space for them to develop their self-esteem, self-motivation, self-management, social skills, empathy and resiliency directed my educational journey.
The ASCL grew from that professional space. As climbing gyms were formed in the late 80’s and early 90’s, I was trying to figure out how best to use them with my students. At this time gyms were new and climbers were trying to figure out how a climbing competition would run. I participated in traditional red point competitions when climbing and competing in Europe on a couple of my summer breaks. I brought this friendly competition style back to implement into my program. My colleagues and I had so much fun playing around with this format and creating competitions that were friendly yet challenging. It’s you against the wall and your fellow competitors celebrate your success with you. It’s such a wonderful and safe atomosphere to climb in.
This experience solidified my vision for kids in the U.S. to experience their own life-long lessons and relationships through climbing. Plus, the climbing industry provides many opportunities for a future. Kids can become sponsored athletes, route setters, gym managers, gym owners or simply find a positive hobby.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
A group of Colorado teachers started the Colorado High School Climbing League more than 2 decades ago. This work was all voluntary in addition to our teaching and coaching responsibilities. Seeing the genuine growth of our student-athletes kept us all going in the face of this difficlut work. Through the years, participation grew and we opend the American Scholastic Climbing League (ASCL) as a 501c3 non-profit in 2018.
Forming the ASCL allowed us to formalize our rules and scoring platform while creating access to educational grants. In turn, we are able to provide a climbing league for middle and high school aged athletes across the nation. The ASCL is for everyone: kids compete at their own level. They can be brand new to climbing or can be the best athlete in the gym. The league is about kids supporting each other, witnessing climbs for each other, belaying each other and learning skills of self-discipline and sportsmanship. Adults are present only to facilitate and educate. We want the kids to take ownership of the comps, including the safety and integrity of fair play. They are accountable to themselves and each other.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
For me, the best skill I learned is not to take NO for an answer. Public education is riddled with beuraurcracy and out-of-touch administrators. Electives teachers (Music, Art, PE, etc) are constantly having to prove our worth to parents and people in positions of power vs our society valuing each discipline which creates a well-rounded person. Each year teachers are tasked to implement a new “education de jour.” Administrators bring “the best new ideas” back from administrative conferences, given by people who haven’t been in the classroom for decades, or ever. Then, they expect teachers to realign with new policies and procedures, year after year after year. The true best practices comes from the teachers themselves. I advocated to create change for the better and to implement educational policies and programs that come from the people working directly with students – the teachers. If you’re lucky, you’ll find an aministrator who respects and supports teachers by eliminating all of the nonsense surrounding them.
This takes me to being relentless. Keep yourself educated and always expect change. Life is fluid and there are times when you need to look at yourself and what you’re doing and decide if your methods need tweaking. By continuing to reflect and learn myself, my personal and professional growth allows me stay with best practices.
Finally, I listen to my clients. In this case, I listen to the student atheltes and coaches. I want to know from them what their experience is like and how I can make the league better for them. I attend as many competitions as I can so I can be on the floor and see how competitons play out in real time. I ask for feedback, give surveys and communicate with our members as much as possible.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
One of the biggest challenges facing the ASCL, and many non-profits, is the lack of financial support and grant opportunities available. The current economy is directly impacting non-profits, and subsequently our student athletes. People, good people, have spent their lives trying to help others only to see that work flatlined by selfish directives.
Many of us are now looking toward personal donations.
You can be a part of helping a child discover climbing and a positive community by giving financial assistance to those in need.
Please donate at: https://climbtheleague.org/donate/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://climbtheleague.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scholasticclimbingleague/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/climbtheleague.org
Image Credits
pic 1: Anne Kalfas
pic 3: Sharon Bennett
pics 4-6: Lorraine Lutz
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
