Wheeler joins BISD teaching/coaching staff

Vic Wheeler, a self-described "history fanatic", will be bringing a love of history to his 8th grade classroom and a military presence to his role as the newest member of the boys coaching staff at BISD. His students will benefit from both attributes, and the fact that Wheeler admits, "I'm fun in the classroom and kids really respond to me." His rapport with students even extends beyond the classroom, and for the past two years Wheeler took groups of students to tour Washington, DC. He will be teaching U.S. History at BJHS and he will be an assistant coach in football, basketball and baseball.

Wheeler grew up in Los Angeles, California, where he played football and baseball, ran the hurdles and competed in shotput and discus. Later, during an eight-year stint in the U.S. Army, Specialist Wheeler was based in Fort Hood, Texas, Fort Carson, Colorado, and Okinawa, Japan. After leaving the military he decided he wanted to teach and attended Sam Houston State University where he graduated in '07 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with minors in history and English. He is currently working on his Masters through on-line courses with Western New Mexico University.

Vic Wheeler's first two years of teaching were at Livingston Junior High School in Livingston, Texas. He and his wife, Dana, were considering a move back to Los Angeles, but decided instead to move their family closer to her East Texas roots. Dana's parents live in Groesbeck, and so the Wheelers have made their home in Mexia. Vic will be commuting to Buffalo with fellow BHS coach Clayton Hodges, who lives in Mart.

The Wheelers have three daughters: twelve-year-old Cahtryne, nine-year-old Kaelyn, and eight-month-old Karleigh. The two older girls play softball, and the family enjoys travelling. Baseball is Vic Wheeler's favorite sport and his hobby since he was a kid has been to travel to various ballparks to watch ball teams with his dad and brothers, and that is still a favorite family outing today.