Baggett Elementary Leads in Organized Sports for Students
Baggett Elementary School in Lawrenceville is the only elementary school in Gwinnett County Public Schools to offer organized sports, providing students with valuable physical and emotional development opportunities.
Four years ago, teachers Mjay Morris, Jasmin Riley, and Shanteria Smith launched the program, starting with basketball. The sports offerings have since expanded to include T-ball, flag football, and soccer. Smith previously led a cheerleading squad, which is now part of Baggett’s athletic program.
“I started a cheerleading program eight years ago,” said Smith, a language support teacher. “We had basketball initially, but after the coach left, we focused on cheerleading. Eventually, we revived basketball and added soccer and T-ball, allowing us to cheer at games.”
Morris, who also coaches an AAU basketball team, noted that the idea for a sports program emerged when she sought to use the school gym for her team’s training. “I asked then-Principal Mitch Green if we could start a basketball team,” Morris said. “He told me I needed a partner, so I volunteered Coach Riley, whom I didn’t even know at the time.”
Riley, a physical education teacher, expressed surprise at the program’s growth. “We started with a small basketball team and cheerleaders, and now we have four or five sports across multiple grade levels,” she said.
Other staff members, including Kyla Adams, Michael Greenberg, and Verenice Romo, also coach teams. Students from all grades participate, with soccer being particularly popular, drawing 50 to 80 participants for practices and games held on Tuesday afternoons.
The Baggett team has encouraged nearby schools to develop similar programs, but none have yet materialized. Consequently, games are played among Baggett students, who form multiple teams for competition.
“We split the kids into four, five, or six teams and create a schedule,” Morris explained. “We produce uniforms, and on game day, students represent teams like Baggett Blue, Baggett Red, or Baggett Green.”
Riley added, “We’ve essentially created a league here. We play in-house and sometimes visit Discovery High School for games, allowing older students to gain travel experience.”
The coaches aim to establish external competition but recognize the challenges involved. “We’re still advocating for other schools to join us, but it requires significant effort,” Riley said.
Looking ahead, Morris envisions a more structured league similar to those in middle and high schools. “This program provides a pathway and a sense of belonging,” she said. “Seeing the excitement on game days is rewarding. I hope for a basketball league and an expanded sports league overall.”
Recruiting new athletes is straightforward, according to Smith. “At our Open House, we showcase our athletic offerings for the entire year and hold meetings to set expectations for the season.”
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