This is Ian Arms’s first year at Prospect. He graduated from Iowa State in 2021 with a degree in kinesiology and health. He is an instructional assistant in the science classrooms, as well as a coach on the boys’ track and field and sprinters cross teams.
Q: Why did you decide to major in that [kinesiology and health]?
A: "So, previously, I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist, you know, be a physical therapist for some sports organization, so I went into their kinesiology and health track and it was all about how the body moves, what’s the medical aspects of it, that sort of jazz."
Q: You said [previously] you went to high school here at Prospect. Why did you come back?
A: "I know a lot of the administration here, so it was an easy text to Mr. Mirandola, being like ‘Hey, I’m getting into the education field, any openings at Prospect?’ And he kept me posted on job openings."
Q: What are you teaching, in your first year here?
A: "This is my first year. I’m an instructional assistant, so that means I’m just helping out in classrooms. My content area is science, so I’m in a lot of biology, one geometry, and that’s really about it."
Q: If you could teach any class here, which one would you teach?
A: "Biology for sure. Biology and human physiology. Looove human physiology."
Q: Would you teach regular bio, honors bio, AP bio?
A: "AP Bio, definitely AP bio. But I have nothing against the honors or regular."
Q: Were you coaching them [the track and field and sprinters cross teams last year]? As a volunteer or as an assistant?
A: "I came in halfway through the season in the spring last year, for track and field. Last year I was really working as a PT tech the whole time, so it’s hard to navigate my calendar, being able to be here with the kids."
Q: Why did you decide to come back this year?
A: "So I’m getting a masters degree, I probably should mention that, I’m getting a masters in secondary education so that I can be a biology teacher. So that’s why now I’m still living at home. It’s an easy walk down the street, it’s about an eight minute walk. It’s just simpler for me to be here in each class. And then after school, I roll out to the track and get to coaching."
Q: What is your favorite part of coaching?
A: "Probably watching my athletes do something that they said they would never be able to do. Being present and supporting them through adversity, challenges, and being that guiding lamp."
Q: How do you do that? How do you help them overcome those challenges?
A: "Oh man. Being just a motivational speaker in the room, or a motivational presence. Maintaining a positive mindset during practice. Showing them how to do a certain exercise, showing them how to do a certain drill. Educating, because my background’s in kinesiology, so I can educate them on how the body moves, what we’re looking for, as far as angles of the joints, angles of the bones, stuff like that."
Q: Did you run track in high school or college?
A: "I did not run in college, I ran here [at Prospect] all four years."
Q: What events did you run?
A: "I did the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter. Then whatever relays they put me into. I was pretty versatile."
Q: What was your favorite?
A: "200 meter. I mean, I was pretty fast, don’t get me wrong, but the 100 was a little too short for me, so 200 I was able to hold my endurance a little bit longer than the others."
Q: My final question is what goals do you have this year, for the track team and for yourself personally?
A: "For the track team, I would say, get as many guys downstate as possible. To make it more specific, I would say let's try to get, maybe 20 guys downstate. Get all three relays, all four relays, downstate. 4x1, 4x2, 4x4, and 4x8. Now my personal goals, it’s gonna be a little bit more educational focused. Just being present in the classroom would be one, two would be trying to be the best educator I can be. And then, build as many relationships as I can with staff members, with the students, and just, be a positive figure inside the building."
