To Suggs, work ethic important in both academics, athletics

From 2019-2021, Robert Suggs received the S.C. Drivers Ed Teacher of the Year award and Southeast Region Teacher Excellent Nationals. West Florence is so proud to have him as its Drivers’ Education teacher, as well as one of its football coaches.

Suggs kind of fell into becoming a Driver’s Ed instructor because of “college…and wanting extra money.” Then, his wife changed jobs, moving them to Florence, and he learned that West Florence did not have a Driver’s Ed. instructor.

Suggs' favorite thing about teaching this class is his relationships with his students. His least favorite is having to discipline students who don’t like to listen.

In five years, he said he believes he will still be teaching at West Florence, he will still be coaching football, and he will be preparing his daughters to go to college.

The reason Suggs said coaching is so meaningful to him is the competition and brotherhood that comes with the game, as well as working with student athletes. As a high school student athlete once himself, he said in all four years, he always made the honor roll. He said that his favorite subject in high school was always math. He said it was challenging at times, but it made him feel so accomplished every time he was able to solve math problems consistently. From playing football in high school, Suggs said he learned as a coach to have a good work ethic and he learned about adversity, lessons he tries to teach his students and athletes.

In his free time, Suggs is a massive card collector, he plays golf, and spends time with his family. He is happily married to his wife, who works as a Physician’s Assistant for McLeod and they have two girls (named Addison and Harper), he happily married a physician assistant for Mcleod Health. Suggs’ favorite movie is The Untouchables. If he could buy one thing in the world he would buy a golf course because of his love of the game, and if he could be anybody for a day then he wouldn’t be anyone else but himself.

Suggs had some advice for students: never sell yourself short.