PEPALOOZA

I earned a BS degree in Physical Education from Kennesaw State University and a MS degree in curriculum and instruction from Western Kentucky University. I have served as the Elementary Physical Education Professional Development facilitator for Paulding County since 2006 I have been in charge of planning and implementing professional development meetings and activities for all Elementary Physical Education Specialists in Paulding County. Topics included Georgia Department of Education Physical Education Standards review/rollout, share days, and collaboration. Teachers that attended professional development activities earned two Professional Learning Units each year. Since the fall of 2009, I have served as a supervising teacher for eight student teachers. Both Kennesaw State University and University of West Georgia have recognized my program as a vital teaching tool for the future of our profession. I have served on the Georgia Association for Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance executive board since 2008. I have served as Vice President of the General Division and I am currently serving as Recreation Chair. My duties include attending board meetings and leadership development activities throughout the year as well as promoting the organization and our mission. I also attend and present at several local, state, and regional physical education conventions each year. In 2010, I was awarded GAHPERD Recreation Specialist of the Year for my work educating students about the outdoor places where they can exercise. In 2011, I was nominated for NFL Networks Physical Education Teacher of the Year. I have also been awarded almost $3,000 in grants to promote and increase physical activity. In 2012 I was awarded Teacher of the Year at Nebo Elementary School.

I believe that my personal teaching style is nestled somewhere between cooperative learning, where students work together on projects, and guided inquiry, where the emphasis is placed on the process rather than the product. I am not just teaching children the basic skills. I am also teaching them the how and why to use those skills. I am committed to teaching students how to play again, how to interact with each other, and how to make life long physically educated decisions. I concentrate and introduce games that allow all students to make developmentally appropriate decisions based on the information they have learned. This way the students will most likely take ownership of learning the skill/game and they will be more likely to perform the skill/game repeatedly. I also focus on teamwork and sportsmanship that will continue to engage the students at recess, at home with the family, and with the neighborhood children. Most importantly, I strive to focus on games that cost little or no money. This way I can maximize the opportunities children can get out and PLAY! Find something you love and you will do it for a LIFETIME!

2015 SHAPE SOUTHERN DISTRICT TOY 2015 GAHPERD TOY 2015 PB RITCH MIDDLE SCHOOL TOY 2010 GAHPERD Recreation Specialist of the Year 2012-13 NEBO ELEMENTARY TOY

Kennesaw State University BS PE 97 Western Kentucky Universtiy MS PE 08

I have volunteered in the cycling community in and around Paulding County for the last 14 years. In 2007, I was elected president of Paulding SORBA (Southern Off-road Bicycle Association). Paulding SORBA is a non-profit, volunteer, membership organization formed to promote environmental awareness and family fitness through mountain biking and other outdoor activities in the Paulding county area. Paulding SORBA is involved in building and maintaining over 20 miles of beginner trails around Paulding County. I recently wrote a successful grant for Paulding SORBA. The club was awarded $10,000 from REI for the “THE GATEWAY TRAILS INITIATIVE.” The INITIATIVE gives us the ability and challenge to build 16 more miles of beginner trails in Paulding County before the end of 2012. The INITIATIVE focuses on the unstructured play experiences that mountain biking provides and how it inspires children to explore the natural world and leads them to positive associations with exercise. Offering more safe opportunities for children to ride can have a major impact on our nationwide physical inactivity crisis. Our Mountain Bike Parks will be installed close to schools and parks with hopes that students in the area will get plugged into the outdoors.