About Me
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jerry Gaines, a life-long educator, began his career in 1972 at
Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia where he taught and
coached for twenty-one years. He spent the next fifteen years as a high
school assistant principal (three at the Chesapeake Center for Science and
Technology, and twelve at Great Bridge High). He completed the last three
years of his career as a Central Office Supervisor.
Notable achievements include his selection as Teacher of the Year for
the Chesapeake School System, Coach of the Year by the Portsmouth Sports
Club, being inducted into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall
of Fame, and inducted into the Hall of Legends by the Chesapeake Sports
Club. Dr. Gaines was the first Black Athlete to earn a full athletic
scholarship to Virginia Tech where he still holds two records in track and
field. He is also the first Black Athlete to be inducted into the school’s
Sports Hall of Fame. After college, toward the end of the Vietnam war, he
served his country honorably as an officer in the U.S. Army. In 2023, VA
Tech honored him by dedicating the VT Director of Track and Field Office
to Dr. Gaines.
While working as an educator, Dr. Gaines used his love of fishing to
reach out and mentor young people he came to know and love. Many of the
relationships that developed have lasted more than 50 years. To this day he
takes great joy in meeting with former students, catching up on what is
happening in their lives, and developing new relationships with their
families!
BIOGRAPHY (con't)
After retiring as an educator, Dr. Gaines traveled the country sharing avery profound message that he claims, “a million kids taught HIM.” As atribute to those many lives that he has touched, he has written a book entitled“40 Stories High” – a selection of short stories recounting some of his mostmoving experiences teaching, coaching, and mentoring.More recently, Dr. Gaines tries to keep his speaking engagementswithin a short drive from his home. He still gets out his fishing rods as muchas possible, often accompanied by former students who just need a bit of“Gaines Time”! His greatest joy is his granddaughters, and he delights inbeing a part of their lives.
MY WRITING ROOTS
Most young children have lively imaginations. I was no exception. The fact that I often played alone only enhanced that trait in me. For fear of being called "weird," I rarely shared any of the thoughts that coursed regularly through my mind. It was not until high school, after completing an assignment in a Creative Writing class (a short story) that I realized I was not weird at all. The teacher, known to be strict, was very impressed by what I had written. Her hearty approval helped give me the confidence to start writing down all those weird thoughts that regularly found their way into my mind. Today, I simply share those thoughts with anyone interested in reading about them.
MY STYLE
My conversational writing style invites readers to examine themselves in order to discover their own unique set of strengths and weaknesses, and thereby, find the fulfillment that they seek.
My writings mirror aspects of what I believe is the most important aspect of life -- relationships. While relationships can bring terrible strife, turmoil and suffering, they can also be the source of satisfaction through boundless purpose, significance, and joy -- treasures that are locked away in the chests (lives) of each individual, and revealed in the memories created through each day's encounters. Relationships make life worth living, and as many authors will attest, are certainly worth writing about.