I began coaching fresh out of high school in 1999 coaching Middle School and shortly after developing the Wyandotte County Kids Wrestling Club. For 8 years I coached kids, mentored kids, met parents, developed friendships, picked kids up, paid fees, bought food and what ever it takes. I offered a wrestling program with no membership fees what so ever (yeah, I know bad for business).

On Monday, I was hand delivered a letter from the Asst. Superintendent stating that she questions my ability yo protect the health, safety, and welfare of students under my care. I was fired within the hour of this letter being received by my administrator. Noone can tell me what I did wrong, however the Ass. Superintendent said I was wrong for charging a $25 fee for my summer camp.

I currently have 45 middle school students, 28 high school students, and another 30 kids in the kids program who are now with out a coach. We were locked out the building last night even though I have an active building permit.

I have done ever thing in my power to build and promote wrestling in my area. I know it was an up hill battle but I battle I was willing to fight to give kids an opportunity. I have some great kids who wrestled for me in the past and some kids who really have a love and passion for the sport. Since I coach middle school as well there are some kids who I have had the honor to coach for the last 6-8 years. Right now all of that including my kids club is gone.

The business of it is maybe they have the right to fire me for whatever reason. But NOONE has the right to to but down my name. In the end your name is all you have and I want mine back.

I am asking for anyone and EVERYONE, it doesnt matter if your a parent, student, coach, or administrator who is willing to support me and all the work I put in to please email Dr. Lane at cilane@kckps.org with some positive experience you had with me or my kids. The more email sent the better.


Anyone with advise or wants to communicate directly with me PLEASE do so. I appreciate any and ALL advise and support.

Thanks in advanced. It has been a great 8 year run.

Travius Stokes

traviusstokes@gmail.com
(913) 563-0708

Trey are you sure that you even want to go back to work for these people? I mean their loss is going to be someone elses gain. Don't worry I got your back on this one. Finish school and come to Lawrence!

I want my name back!!! When everything is over and done the only thing u have in life is your name. I am proud of my name and I dont want anyone to smear it for any reason.

Understandible...get your job back, coach one more year there and then step down and move on I'd say. You have done nothing wrong. Heck $25 is pretty dam cheap, especially with pay to play these days.

Best of luck buddy.

I would ask the Asst. Super if she realizes that most the other sports at the school also charges a camp fee. And to keep from violation of some rules I believe most people say its is for a camp T-Shirt. And that some of the other sports will in some way hold it against a student who does not find time to attend, thus almost making it manditory to play on their team. And where was the AD during this time, instead of a of a Asst. School Super ramroding the whole ordeal?
But based only on the facts we know for the reason of the termination is almost childish on the schools part. Good Luck in your quest. And I hope that the reason they used of health and safety of the students welfare, with that said it sounds no ones jobs are safe in that school.
So you could look at it like they opened better doors of opportunity for you, and in the end you will realize they done you a favor. And like earlier said, their lose, will be someone elses gain.

My advice is to move on. Don't dwell on this because you aren't going to change it. Jobs don't work out for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you can do your best and still get treated unfairly. There's probably more here than meets the eye, more than a $25 camp fee, and more than the health, safety and welfare of the students. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and, if so inclined, get hooked up with another program. There are always teams and clubs looking for help. And losing your job doesn't take away your "good name" or the good you've done.

The best you can do is learn from this event. Ask yourself what led to this and what you could have done differently had you known what others were thinking. Even if you think you were "right" and others "wrong" you can still benefit from trying to see the situation through the administrator's eyes.

I got passed over once for a promotion and felt I was treated poorly so I quit. Turned out that not getting promoted was the best thing that ever happened to me.

And lastly, even though you might feel angry now, resist the urge to bad mouth those you think abused you. That will say more about your character than anything else you can do in the short term.