From Parent to Coach: How One MDCPS Mom Became a Mentor Through Miami SCORES Partnership

By Keith B. Parrimore

Principal

Kelsey L. Pharr Elementary

Miami-Dade County Public Schools

When Lily Calderon watched her daughter play on the Miami SCORES soccer team at Kelsey Pharr Elementary a few years ago, she never imagined the journey she was beginning. She went from cheering her daughter from the sidelines to volunteering to help them practice, finally becoming their amazing coach and role model, inspiring young female athletes through her passion for the game.

The Miami SCORES program, Powered by Concacaf, launched in the fall of 2024 and provides six Title I Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) with a free after-school program that allows all third through fifth graders to join a soccer team and participate in poetry workshops twice a week. The program aims to foster teamwork, leadership, commitment, and academic engagement.

Miami SCORES is a part of the SCORES Network, which is North America’s largest free soccer and literacy program serving over 15,000 Title I public school students annually.

The program uses soccer to engage students of all genders in team sports, while the poetry component introduces them to a creative literary outlet where they can freely express themselves through writing.

“We use soccer as a tool to get these students interested, to come together as a team, and then they find their voice through the poetry and literacy program,” said Miami Scores Executive Director and Coach Rob Uvanovic.

Ms. Calderon, who always enjoyed soccer in her native Honduras, saw how much her daughter and the other girls were enjoying the sport, but she could see they needed guidance. Soon she was helping them with their practice, acting as an assistant coach. And in some of the matches, she even stepped in as a referee.

“Little by little, I started helping the team, and I would see them make little mistakes, and I would help them practice,” said Calderon. “Coach Rob and Coach Will helped me so much, so I really wanted to continue working with the girls, helping them to get better, guiding them, and they were having so much fun.”

Just as her daughter was moving on to middle school, Calderon got a job at Kelsey Pharr Elementary in the cafeteria, and at that point, Coach Rob knew he had found the perfect person to replace the girls’ soccer coach who had just moved on to another position. He could see from Calderon’s interaction with the students that she was a perfect fit for the program.

“She would always volunteer to help the girls practice and was always there on game day. And she’s been doing an amazing job,” said Uvanovic. “The girls really look up to her, and the principal is happy with her since she brings such great energy to the table, and she has continued to grow and had a wonderful impact on these girls. She is very dedicated.”

After finishing her shift in the school cafeteria, Coach Calderon trains the girls, about 20 of them, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. She drills them on various techniques on how to pass the ball and the most effective way to run without getting winded. On Fridays, the team engages in friendly but intense competitions with the other five schools in the program.

She says a new part of the program is to incorporate nutrition so that students know what foods are best to eat. They teach the kids about proteins, vegetables, fats, and portion size.

But the best part of the job comes when she sees how the students appreciate her efforts.

“The affection these girls show me is just so amazing. They are always seeking me out, asking me for guidance to the point where my own kids get jealous,” said Coach Calderon. “I try not to be too harsh, to treat them like my own kids.”

About a month ago, Calderon thought she was going to move to help her sister, who lives in another state, so Miami Scores organized a goodbye event. All the girls poured their hearts out in a card that showed what an impression their coach made on them, with many students saying she was their best and favorite coach. Luckily, Coach Calderon decided to stay, and the girls were overjoyed.

M‑DCPS provides students of all income levels with enriching sports and literacy programs. The district also encourages staff and parents to take an active role in each child’s growth both in and out of the classroom, making M‑DCPS your best choice.