On any other weekday, seeing a group of elementary school students walking around with drawn-on beards, wearing polarized sports sunglasses and coach whistles around their necks might make you do a double take.

This morning, however, in celebration of Swap Day during Red Ribbon Week at Huntington Place Elementary, numerous kids filed into the school dressed as their favorite teacher, P.E. Coach Brandon Glander.

There was no mistaking who they were supposed to be. Some wore baseball caps, others had on floppy-brimmed sun hats and there were plenty of blue Wildcats T-shirts. But one thing they all had in common as they took pictures with Coach Glander was a joyous smile.

“It gives you a reminder as to why teachers do this, you know?” said Glander, who is also an assistant football coach at Echols Middle School. “We do it for the kids, to make a difference in their lives. We didn’t count (them), but to see so many kids dressed up as me… wow. I was honored. It was awesome.”

This is Glander’s fourth year at Huntington Place teaching physical education, and he wouldn’t have it any other way, he said. He still wakes up every morning excited to go to work.

His passion shines through in his work. Earlier this year, Glander was recognized as Tuscaloosa County School System’s 2025 Teacher of the Year after being voted Huntington Place’s nominee by his fellow faculty members. He received the honor on Jan. 27 during the TCSS Educator Recognition Awards Ceremony.

“To have my coworkers vote for me and to win this award was an honor,” he said. “There are some people out there who may think that P.E. is just an extra recess. So, it is heartwarming to know my coworkers see the hard work I put in and appreciate the things I do at the school. They are amazing people.”

In his role as P.E. coach, Glander works with the kids, guiding them through different exercises and sports skill stations and coaching them as they compete in a variety of group games. His students also learn about health-related fitness, including the different muscle groups of the body, and the importance of staying physical active. On track days, they run and make sure they get in their miles, he said.

A Kinesiology alumnus, Glander earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2022; however, teaching was not the career path he first considered when attending the University. His original plan was to take the criminal justice route and do something in public service.

But when he met his now wife, whose family is full of teachers, he said, they encouraged him to consider a career in teaching. This led Glander to channel his love for sports into physical education.

“I realized (I loved it) the first time we got into the schools (during our placements) and were working with the kids,” he said. “I taught a student at one of the elementary schools how to do a forward roll. He struggled with it, but when he finally got it, his face lit up, and that is such a good feeling. I thought, wow, I want to feel that every time I step foot in a classroom.”

He was hooked after that.

While in the Physical Education program, Glander was mentored by Drs. Libba Woodruff and Oleg Sinelnikov.

“They are amazing professors. I think I’ve pulled from every single placement experience I had and applied it to my job now,” he said. “Our cohort was close, and we still keep in touch. (Being in the program) was a great experience. I loved every second of it.”

Once he graduated from UA, Glander began teaching at Huntington Place in the same role he is in today. He is also an assistant football coach at Echols Middle School.

Huntington Place Elementary was his first teaching job, and “hopefully, it’s my last,” he said. “I love it here.”

“The kids, the community, the faculty, the administration – they mean everything,” Glander said. “People tell you when you’re going through school that if you enjoy what you do, you will never work a day in your life. It sounds cheesy, but it’s the truth. I’m living that now.”