University of the Ozarks senior Luke Proctor didn’t just get a job offer—he got it in a moment he’ll never forget. Sitting in the stands in mid-March at the Arkansas High School Girls Basketball Class 5A State Championship game in Hot Springs, cheering on his hometown Mountain Home team, Proctor’s phone rang with the news he had been waiting for. On the other end was a Mountain Home High School administrator, calling to tell him the school board had approved his hiring.
Proctor, who will graduate in May, is returning home this summer as a teacher-coach at his high school alma mater, where he will teach special education and coach basketball.
“It was an amazing feeling knowing I will get to go back home, and it was super cool to hear it while watching the school play in a state championship game,” Proctor said. “It was such a great feeling and sense of relief to know where I am headed before I even graduate. I am extremely blessed and thankful for this opportunity.”
A former Ozarks basketball player, Proctor is earning a degree in business technology education. Over the past year, he has gained hands-on experience through an internship at Clarksville High School, working under mentor teacher and Ozarks alumna Kristie Frost ’96.
“My student internship has been an amazing experience; I could not have asked for a better mentor teacher than Mrs. Frost,” Proctor said. “The experience has shown me what the day-to-day life of a teacher actually looks like, beyond just lesson planning. The most surprising thing has probably been how much relationship-building matters. If students trust and respect you, everything else becomes easier.”
That experience also revealed strengths he didn’t fully recognize in himself.
“I’ve learned that I’m more patient and adaptable than I thought,” he said. “Not every lesson goes as planned, but being able to adjust and keep things moving has been a big area of growth for me.”
For Proctor, the most rewarding part of teaching comes in the small, everyday moments.
“Seeing their confidence grow through the year reminds me why I wanted to teach in the first place,” he said. “It showed me that even small wins can have a big impact.”
A career in education, he said, felt like a natural fit from the start.
“I’ve always loved being around sports and working with students,” he said. “Growing up, my coaches had a huge impact on me—not just in athletics, but in how I carried myself and handled adversity. I want to be that same kind of role model for kids. Teaching gives me the opportunity to make a difference in the classroom, and coaching allows me to build relationships and teach life lessons outside of it. I want to be someone that my students and players can count on being there for them and being consistent.”
One of his most impactful classes at Ozarks was theories of athletic coaching with Dr. Sergio Molina.
“This class gave me the opportunity to plan full projects, such as a fully functioning fundraiser with budget sheets and research on basketball development within young athletes,” he said. “It also taught me the best way to handle certain situations.”
Proctor also credited the Pat Walker Teacher Education Program for preparing him for the classroom.
“We’ve had opportunities to practice classroom management, lesson planning, and working with diverse learners,” he added. “I feel more confident going into my own classroom because I’ve already been in that environment and know what to expect.”
His path to education wasn’t always linear. Between his sophomore and junior years, Proctor made the decision to switch his major from business management to business technology education—a move that required careful planning and guidance. He credits NaLisa Brown, assistant professor of marketing, in helping him navigate the change.
“She really took the time to really help me achieve my goals,” he said. This was not a small task. Being the only business technology education major within the last few years took a lot of planning and preparation to make happen. I cannot thank her enough.”
Looking back, Proctor describes his time at Ozarks as a period of meaningful growth.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself, built strong relationships, and gained the experience I need to move into my career,” he said. “I have met some of my best friends, been paired with an amazing mentor teacher, got to know all of my Ozarks professors, played basketball at the collegiate level for four years, and really got involved in the community. It has been a challenging but rewarding journey that’s prepared me for what’s next.”
Topics: Education