Coach Stewart with Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles.
Stewart graduated in December 2016 with a
Bachelor of Science in Social Science and a
minor in Coaching. His first position at West
Jacksonville Middle School was followed by
his acceptance of a position at MSD. There
he taught world history and coached junior
varsity basketball, track and field, and football.
Six months ago…
On February 14, 2018, Stewart reported to the
MSD campus just like every other day.
“It was a normal day. I had three periods of
teaching, and the fourth was planning,” he
says. School staff had been notified that a
“code red” active shooter drill would take
place in the coming weeks, but no one knew
exactly when. As the school day progressed,
a fire drill sounded and everyone went
through the motions.
After eating lunch and prepping a track and
field schedule, Stewart visited a neighboring
classroom, checking on one of his student
athletes. Fifteen minutes later the fire alarm
sounded a second time.
While students proceeded to fire drill
stations, again, teachers wondered if it was
actually the active-shooter drill. Then the first
gunshot rang out.
“Once we heard multiple shots, we knew it
wasn’t a drill,” said Stewart.
Pressing students back into the classroom
and directing others to return to a room
and clear the hall, Stewart combed the
surrounding area. Teachers had initiated
code red protocol, doors were locked, and a
group of about 20 students were left stranded
in the open.
Gabe Stewart (#20) playing for the Jacksonville Dolphins.
Stewart hid the group as best he could,
moving them around a corner and flat against
a wall, and then returned to the locked
classrooms for help. “I ran up and down,
flashing my employee badge, to get someone
to open a door. Eventually, one teacher did.” Stewart reached that goal when he
appeared in the Miami qualifiers, which
aired on June 13.
Once that group had safely joined the
others, Stewart returned to that neighboring
classroom. He waited nearly three hours
with his students until SWAT teams cleared
the campus. “I want to see my students smile again, give
them something to be happy about and look
forward to,” he repeatedly told reporters, and
smiles were everywhere at viewing parties
hosted by MSD on June 13.
“Teachers, students, our teams, the District
all came together to help and to take care
of each other. That’s what #MSDStrong is
all about.” “If they give me a call in future, I would
love to return,” Stewart said of his Warrior
experience.
Four months ago…
NBC reality show “American Ninja Warrior”
(ANW) has roughly six million viewers each
season. Three-time Primetime Emmy Award
nominee, the show frequently inspires
spin-offs and specially themed competitions.
Sometime before the qualifiers last spring,
ANW contacted MSD about hosting a tribute
episode. When representatives of the show
asked school administrators who on staff
could handle the daunting 10-part obstacle
course, Stewart’s name quickly came up.
Warrior J.J. Woods took on his training.
Soon, Stewart discovered the unique
challenges this competition posed for
him as a former college athlete. “It’s not
about muscling your way through,” he told
reporters prior to the Miami episode airing.
“It’s about using your momentum.”
With only three weeks to train, and competing
against 100 other contestants, he raced for the
opportunity to appear on national television.
Though for Stewart, the ultimate prize had
nothing to do with dollar signs.
Ten years from now…
Most recently, Stewart accepted a teaching
and coaching position at Thomas Stone High
School in Maryland, back in his hometown.
“That February 14 th was an eye-opening
experience. I had this gut feeling that I
needed to return to the community where I
grew up, give back to the schools there, and
help kids like me.”
His advice to current JU students, or anyone
considering teaching as a career: love kids,
first and foremost. Stewart says that you can
be as educated and well-informed as you
like, but without a passion for putting kids
first, none of that will matter.
He feels the need for role models, coaches,
and teachers in Southern Maryland. Perhaps
more deeply than most, given his humble start.
But he holds out hope for happier days, both at
Stone and in Parkland, where he will visit soon
and often. “I will never forget MSD and will
always have the Eagles in my heart.”
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