This first-year assistant Dean of Students is more than your average disciplinary figure. Rory Holmes graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1994 and boasts he is a “Crimson 4 Life.” His favorite high school memories were winning a Regional Title in basketball his senior year and being able to participate in Black History Month programs. His favorite thing about his job here at JHS is the kids. He loves to develop relationships with the students and to support them through high school and whatever they decide to do after. Although he loves the kids, the one thing they can do to get under his skin is lie to him. Outside of school, Mr. Holmes is also an assistant basketball coach. This was his first year on the staff, and he loved every minute of it. His exact words when asked how he enjoyed his first year of coaching was that it was “a dream come true.” He says he learned a lot about the game of basketball and people all at the same time. Did you know that Mr. Holmes is a black belt in Karate? His favorite thing to do outside of school and basketball is to compete in karate events. Earlier this month he competed at the national qualifier in St. Louis and won first place. He will be competing at Nationals June 12-14 in Detroit, and the World Championships are held in Florida on November 8-13. It is his goal to be a karate World Champion. He also enjoys partaking in community building events and teaching karate classes to kids in his spare time. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Holmes for about a year now, and I have never meet anyone who loves his community, school, and friends and family as much as this man does. He has been a great asset to Jacksonville High School.