An Exhaustive Look into Urban Meyer’s Football Coaching Approach

A longtime educator, Britton Devier coached the football team at Woodmore High School and taught technology. Also an avid reader, Britton Devier particularly values Buddy Martin’s authorized 2008 biography Urban's Way: Urban Meyer, the Florida Gators, and His Plan to Win.

The book is essential reading for fans of the University of Florida and college football in general, as it explores the successful strategies of the Gators’ high-profile former coach. Throughout the 2007 season, Martin was given unprecedented access to the coaching legend. He was present for locker room speeches and listened in on coaching booth headsets. He also undertook numerous interviews with support staff and assistant coaching members, as well as star athletes such as Heisman Trophy-winner Tim Tebow.

The result is a multilayered narrative that goes beyond surface-level events and examines aspects of character that go into making a top-level coach. He also looks at pivotal strategic aspects of Meyer’s approach to the game, including his famous spread offense. Currently with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Urban Meyer and has achieved a record of 50-4 in four seasons as head coach.

Habitat for Humanity's Youth Movement Fights for Affordable Housing

Since 2014, Britton Devier has served as director of credit recovery and advancement at Smiths Station High School. Britton Devier spends his free time supporting causes such as Habitat for Humanity.

A global nongovernmental organization established in 1976, Habitat for Humanity operates with a mission of ensuring that everyone has a place to live. In carrying out this mission, it works with people from all age groups to build affordable houses for those in need.

Habitat for Humanity enjoys a strong support base among the youth sector. On April 2016, over 300,000 participants across the Asia Pacific region joined Habitat for Humanity's annual Habitat Young Leaders Build, the organization's largest youth movement. The movement spans 16 countries and aims to tackle issues that continue to deter poverty housing. Activities include construction and other advocacy activities that aim to inspire people to approach these issues.

To learn how you can support Habitat for Humanity's cause, visit Habitat.org.

ITEEA Member Recognized for Excellence in Teaching

A graduate with an EdD in educational leadership from Liberty University, Britton Devier serves as the director of credit recovery and advancement at Smiths Station High School in Alabama. Britton Devier is also a member of the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).

The ITEEA exists to promote technological literacy by ensuring professionalism among those engaged in the teaching of technology and engineering. Its membership comprises educators who teach a specific curriculum called "technology education," a problem-based design that utilizes STEM principles.

Several ITEEA members have received prestigious awards. Most recently, Harry Roman received the IEEE Excellence in Teaching award for the northeast region. A longtime ITEEA member and contributor to the journal Technology and Engineering Teacher, Mr. Roman started teaching in the 1980s and has since been involved in introducing students to the wonders of creativity, engineering, and invention.

While he is currently in retirement, his influence in the field of education remains through the numerous teacher resource books and articles he has written. He is also a college-level instructor at Montclair State University.

CEO of ITEEA Speaks at STEM Solutions Leadership Conference

Britton Devier is the offensive coordinator and assistant football coach as well as the assistant girls’ track-and-field coach for Smiths Station High School in Smiths Station, Alabama. During school hours, he is director of credit recovery and advancement for Lee County School District’s distance-learning program in Opelika. To stay current within his profession, Britton Devier maintains membership with the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).

A nonprofit organization begun in 1939, the ITEEA has shifted its focus over the years and now supports technology literacy and innovation within schools. One of its main areas of focus is on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), with a higher area of concentration on the technology and engineering fields.

From May 18 through 20, 2016, the U.S. News STEM Solutions Leadership Conference took place in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference discusses the shortage of STEM-related skills found in the U.S. workplace. The event brings together educators, corporations, and companies to discuss how to change this pattern. The executive director and chief operating offer of ITEEA, Steve Barbato, gave a presentation titled “What Testing Technology and Engineering Literacy Means for Education.” He has 10 years of classroom experience teaching engineering and technology as well as 13 years of experience as a school district administrator.

Publications by the National Education Association

Britton Devier serves as a teacher and high school athletics coach in Phenix City, Alabama. Holding a doctor of education from Liberty University, Britton Devier is also a member of numerous professional organizations, such as the National Education Association (NEA).

The NEA is made up of more than 3 million education professionals, from preschool teachers to post-graduate students, across the United States. The association offers a number of publications that cover a range of topics relevant to past and present educators.

NEA Today magazine explores teaching challenges and offers expertise and solutions. Published four times a year, NEA Today examines the political and legal aspects of education, discusses necessary services such as special education, and shares current news stories. The publication offers different versions for future educators and retirees.

Higher Education Advocate, another NEA publication, is published five times a year. It supplies teachers in post-secondary institutions with resources and research specific to their work, exploring topics such as office hours, student debt, and campus life.

A third publication, Thought and Action, is a peer-reviewed journal with practical and theoretical news and information geared toward higher education. An issue published in the winter of 2015 explored diversity and social justice.

The Performance Pyramid of Athletic Mental Training

Britton Devier, a high school teacher of industrial technology in Alabama, holds a doctorate in educational leadership. Also a wrestling, track, and football coach, Britton Devier maintains an interest in mental training for athletes.

A branch of sports psychology, mental training is used by coaches, psychologists, and dedicated mental trainers to enhance physical performance through the improvement of mental faculties. The Ohio Center for Sport Psychology suggests a nine-skill Performance Pyramid, which demonstrates how to build on basic mental skills to ultimately drive performance.

The pyramid is divided into three levels: Basic Skills, Preparatory Skills, and Performance Skills. Each lower level is required to achieve the next.

Basic Skills incorporates attitude, motivation, goals and commitment, and people skills. These abilities are thought to enable athletes to achieve long-term goals, learn necessary physical abilities, and maintain the daily physical practice necessary for successful performance.

Preparatory Skills comprise self-talk and mental imagery. Self-talk helps athletes build and retain self-confidence and positivity, while mental imagery allows them to envision the successful performance they want to attain.

Performance Skills consist of concentration and handling anxiety and emotions. Athletes should be capable of accepting anxiety and strong emotions such as excitement and anger as natural parts of competition and use it to improve their performance.

Finally, athletes must limit their focus to the essential aspects of the sport and avoid distraction. They should concentrate on what is happening in the present moment, rather than what has or may happen.

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association

The director of credit recovery and advancement at Smiths Station High School, Britton Devier has also served as a technology teacher and an industrial technology teacher. A dedicated educator and administrator, Britton Devier maintains membership in multiple professional organizations, including the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).

Founded in 1939 to promote the principles of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the classroom and the professional world, ITEEA represents over 35,000 teachers nationwide and sponsors numerous awards and honors for educators and programs at every grade level. Additionally, the ITEEA helps students and teachers become more technologically literate and engaged with continuing advancements in the field. Key to ITEEA’s success is its integrative STEM education center and learning system, comprised of resources for assessment, curriculum and professional development, and industry research.

Overseen by ITEEA, the Foundation for Technology and Engineering Educators has awarded grants and scholarships since 1986. Perhaps its most prestigious award is the Program Excellence Award, granted to notable work in the field of technology and engineering at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in every state. Winners receive free ITEEA membership and discounted conference fees, as well as national recognition for their work.