To be a successful teacher means to possess a gift that many don’t have the fortune of obtaining. For Brittany Fulk, this ability is achieved in the classroom and on the basketball court.

Fulk is the varsity girls basketball coach at Paradise Valley High School while also teaching physical education.

She’s inspired by her grandmother, Barbara Mousaw, and says growing up all she wanted to do was be a teacher like Mousaw.

Fulk’s mother has been absent in her life since she was 10 months old. Her grandmother filled in the role and helped motivate Fulk throughout the entirety of her life. After many days of visiting Mousaw’s classroom to help grade papers or decorate the walls, she fell in love with the idea of being around kids.

“I realized I wanted to go into education because kids need someone,” said Fulk.

Fulk attended PV in high school and knew she always wanted to go back to coach and teach. Since Fulk's started, she’s been dedicated to building relationships with her students and players.

“She never dreads going to school,” said Mousaw. “And she loves those kids like they are her own.”

She believes the way she succeeds in teaching in the classroom and on the court is by creating trust and showing love.

“My grandmother taught me a lot of the characteristics I think are important to my teaching career: patience, loving and helping others, and to forgive,” said Fulk.

Her goal as an educator is not only to teach what’s in her PowerPoints but allow the kids to walk away with a friend and valuable lessons.

“I want to be able to use my struggle as a way to help kids, not as a crutch,” said Fulk.

Fulk uses what she learns in the classroom on the court for her team. She is thankful to have the opportunity to have an impact in both environments.

“Some coaches are just a coach so they only focus on their players," said Fulk. “But schools are big and there’s a lot of kids that need someone.”

Discipline is something she teaches to the students and athletes. One thing she uses for basketball is to always start behind the line before they run and warm-up. She says she catches a few that try to start with their foot on the line and she’ll wait until they realize what they’re forgetting to do.

Fulk struggled throughout her life with the absence of her mother and continues to feel the void in her heart, but she believes it’s what motivates her daily to be a better teacher and coach. Even on her bad or long days, the love for the kids overcomes it.

“When she’s having a long day and I can just tell, I remind her to enjoy each day and be anxious for nothing,” said Mousaw.

Mousaw is still very happy to see Fulk follow in her footsteps. Mousaw also was inspired by her grandmother to be a teacher. Mousaw says there’s nothing like seeing Fulk at the end of the day and seeing her face light up when she talks about her school, just like when she was younger.

“These kids just make you better,” said Fulk. “I’m so lucky to be both – a teacher and a coach.”