Holden Daum to Join Growing Team at Sioux Falls Lutheran School
Sioux Falls Lutheran School is pleased to share that Mr. Holden Daum, who has completed multiple practicum hours and served as a student teacher under Mrs. Melanie Nelson, will join the growing athletics and physical education teams at SFLS during the 2021-22 school year.
Mrs. Nelson will continue to share her gifts with us in a part-time capacity by teaching grades K-3 as Mr. Daum works with grades 4-12, serves as a football coach, and assists Mr. Raaen with tasks including game management, scheduling, and coordinating summer camps.
Mr. Daum was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, but his family relocated to Texas just a few months later and spent the remainder of his youth in the San Antonio area. The opportunity to play football and baseball brought him to Augustana, where he majored in all-grades education, physical education, and health education. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Sports Administration & Leadership through Augustana, as well.
Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Mr. Daum and his passion for all things related to sports and physical education.
Tell me a bit about yourself and your family.
I was raised in a close knit family. My father has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and has done a lot of research and testing in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. My mom is a physical education teacher in San Antonio, Texas. I have one brother, named Chase, who is a high school junior and enjoys playing baseball, basketball, and football.
I would describe myself as a quiet individual until you get to know me. I grew up playing sports, and they have always been a big part of my life. I enjoy lifting weights, going for walks, being outside, and watching movies and TV shows. My passion and love for sports is why I wanted to become a teacher and a coach.
How did you decide to pursue a career in physical education?
I decided early in my Augustana career that I wanted to be a physical educator. I always knew I wanted to pursue a degree that involved sports. I instantly fell in love with working with kids, watching them grow, and having an impact on others. And, of course, I received some positive influence from my mom as well!
Tell me a bit about your teaching style.
I would describe my teaching style as a hands-on, learn as you go approach. I like to limit my lecture-style instruction and let my students learn through experience by trial and error. In P.E. and sports, the only way to learn is to make mistakes while trying. In my class, my goal is for my students to learn on their own as much as possible through improvement upon mistakes while I’m there to help guide them in correcting those mistakes.
What is your long-term vision for engaging our younger students in athletic programming at SFLS?
I believe the future is bright for the younger generation at SFLS. We have a lot of gifted athletes, and I want to provide them with the best opportunity to succeed in their desired sport. I want to start by setting up a long-term sports program that will help our youngest athletes achieve new success. We can accomplish this by facilitating opportunities to help our young athletes become masters of their craft--by hosting fundamental sports camps, team camps and competitions, in-school development and practice, before and after school programs where they can practice basic fundamentals, summer strength workouts, and more. I like to call it “Eagles in Training.”
What do you look forward to about joining the SFLS team and integrating your faith with your passion for education?
Mrs. Nelson and I work together very well, and I have learned a lot from her, so I look forward to continuing that partnership next year. I also look forward to the opportunity of joining the coaching staff for the first ever football team at SFLS. Along with that, I look forward to getting to know and developing relationships with the high school students through coaching football.
I am a devout Christian and family-oriented individual. This will be part of my teaching and instruction style. What excites me the most about integrating my faith with my passion for education at SFLS is the opportunity to get to work alongside a great group of educators, administrators, and students/families. Having the opportunity to do my student teaching and being a full-time substitute at SFLS has laid the groundwork for me to hit the ground running. I feel I have been given an advantage for my first year, because I can build off what I’ve already begun. I am eager to become the best possible teacher and coach, and I look forward to beginning this exciting journey!
Favorite Bible verse:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” –Timothy 4:7
About Sioux Falls Lutheran School
At Sioux Falls Lutheran School, our mission is to develop capable, Christian servant-leaders in a complex world who are World Ready and Faith Secure. We are passionate about giving our students the tools they need to be successful academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to accomplish this goal by maintaining high academic standards, employing excellent teachers, and upholding a Christian worldview drawn from Scripture. Ultimately, we are committed to partnering with parents and the church to raise lifelong learners who use their gifts and the fruits of the Spirit, in faith, to touch a troubled world with God’s grace.