MAHPERD "Voices From The field"
In this podcast, you will hear from educators and professionals in the field sharing their insights and experiences in the HPE (Health Physical Education) and allied fields. I hope you find this podcast informative, and inspiring. Learn about best practices and tools that you can implement in your teaching practice. We want to know not only what you do, but also the action steps you took to get you where you are. The Status Quo is not in our vocabulary folks, my guests are leaders in the field who are taking action to make an impact in their respective fields. I...
Presume Competence And Build Strength For Life
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Listeners, we have a great episode for you today!
We sit down with Greg Austin to talk about what happens when you lower barriers, build the right supports, and still train for real strength, real skills, and real progress for neurodivergent athletes.
Greg shares his family’s story, including raising their son Lucas and realizing how few high-quality fitness options existed beyond seasonal sports or short-term activities. From there, we dig into what makes Inclusive Fitness different: year-round coaching, sensory-friendly spaces, and professional standards that mirror what many neurotypical ad...
Skills Based Health Education
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Health class can’t be a one-and-done unit that ends with a multiple-choice test. We sit down with Mary Connolly, program leader at Bay Path University and Cambridge College, to unpack what skills-based health education really looks like when it’s built on the Massachusetts Health and Physical Education Framework and aligned with social emotional learning (SEL). The goal is simple and ambitious: teach students the skills they’ll actually use to navigate pressure, uncertainty, and real-world health decisions.
We get concrete about the practices behind the approach, including decision making, self-m...
UDL For A More Inclusive PE experience
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Some students walk into the gym ready to compete. Others walk in scanning for the closest exit, hoping the ball never finds them. That gap isn’t just about effort or attitude. It’s often the environment we’ve built and the narrow set of “right ways” we’ve allowed students to participate. We’re breaking down Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for physical education with practical, ready-for-tomorrow strategies that make PE more inclusive without lowering expectations.
We start with multiple means of engagement: how to move students from compliance to...
UDL Making The Right "Conditions" With Dr. Katie Novak
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One “high-quality” lesson can still leave students out, and that’s the problem Dr. Katie Novak helps us solve. We sit down with one of the world’s leading voices on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to talk about how inclusive education actually works when you design for real human variability. If you teach PE, health, or any subject where confidence and belonging matter, this conversation is packed with practical moves you can use right away.
We dig into the idea we keep coming back to: firm goals with flexible means. Using unf...
"The classroom Remix" Utilizing The Modern Classrooms Project Model & Framework
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One of the most valuable teaching insights we've heard recently is surprisingly simple: if learning only happens while you're lecturing, a single interruption can bring the entire class to a standstill. In this conversation, I sit down with Toni Rose Deanon to explore the Modern Classrooms Project and discuss how educators can redesign instruction so students continue learning, thinking, and understanding expectations—even when the teacher isn't leading from the front of the room.
We break down the three pillars blended learning, self-paced learning, and mastery-based learning with concrete clas...
A Practical Playbook For Elementary P.E. Teachers
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If you’ve ever walked into a gym with 80 plus students and thought, “How am I supposed to teach real skills, keep everyone safe, and still meet state standards?” you’re not alone. I sit down with longtime educator Wendi Daniels to unpack what it actually takes to run a high-quality elementary physical education program and why “just rolling out the ball” remains a damaging practice that continues to negatively affect kids.
Wendi shares the story behind her book, Revolutionary PE, created when Texas TEKS standards changed and she wanted new and veteran...
If P.E. is Required, Then What Are We Teaching?
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If you’ve ever heard a student say, “We just played tag,” and felt that sinking feeling, you’re going to want this conversation.
In this episode, I talk with Dr. Hilary Glencross, PE teacher educator, curriculum designer, and founder of UBD Movement Lab, about how to make physical education look and feel like real learning without losing the joy of movement.
We dig into Understanding by Design (UbD) and why backward design changes everything in PE: start with the end goals, align to standards, build assessments with purpose, then choos...
Award Winning P.E. Teacher: "Meet students where they are"
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A well-run gym doesn’t happen by luck. I’m joined by Tom Gelardi, a nationally recognized elementary physical education teacher in New York City, to talk about what strong PE instruction really looks like day to day. We get into the practical challenges every PE teacher faces: big classes, limited space, nonstop movement, and the kind of behavior issues that can derail a lesson fast. Tom breaks down why preparation is the first classroom management strategy, how he sets expectations with students so consequences feel fair, and why a single relationship built outs...
“Supporting student health and wellness"”
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When a school tries to solve student wellness one office at a time, everyone burns out and kids fall through the cracks. I’m joined by Dr. Jeanie Alter, Executive Director of the American School Health Association (ASHA), to talk about what changes when we treat school health as a coordinated team effort across counselors, nurses, teachers, administrators, families, and community partners.
Dr. Alter shares the story that pulled her into this work early: helping make her high school campus smoke free back in the early 90s. From there we trace ho...
From Pause To Purpose "Teaching Through Apathy"
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A majority of teachers experience this, but what do we do about it? Apathy doesn’t start as laziness. It starts when good teachers feel drained, unheard, and stuck in systems that keep adding more while taking away the parts of school that actually feel human. I sit down with retired physical educator and lifelong P.E. advocate Colleen Wegimont to talk about what educator apathy really looks like in schools and why it’s showing up more often in physical education.
We dig into the root causes: burnout from paperwork and s...
The School Nurse "Behind The Scenes"
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Most people think of the school nurse as the place you go for a stomachache. Then you hear what Tami Hale BSN, RN, NCSN actually does before the first bell and all day after that, and the whole picture changes. Tammy is a Worcester Public Schools nurse with decades of experience, and she walks us through the reality of student health in a busy K-12 building where “normal” rarely exists.
We talk about the clinical side of school nursing that families may never see: daily medication schedules, diabetes support that includes bloo...
Understanding Brain Science: A conversation with Dr. Lisa Riegel
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What if the fastest path to better teaching, stronger leadership, and happier learners starts in the brain? We sit down with Dr. Lisa Riegel—educator, researcher, and author of NeuroWell and Aspirations to Operations—to unpack how biology and context shape behavior, attention, and achievement, and how simple shifts can unlock agency and joy in classrooms and teams.
We dive into NeuroWell culture—safe, supportive, and proactive—and why emotional and intellectual safety are as critical as locked doors. Dr. Riegel shares concrete routines that work tomorrow: 10‑minute learning sprints with choice-bas...
"Question Everything" Rethinking P.E. For Every Student
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What if physical education shifted its focus from selecting standouts to elevating every learner? In this conversation, we sit down with Jarrod Robinson—founder of ConnectedPE and the original The PE Geek—to explore how a learning-first philosophy can reimagine PE as a space where all students thrive, not just the most athletically gifted.
Jarrod reflects on his journey from thoughtful experimentation in his own classroom to cultivating a global movement, illustrating how intentional design, structured reflection, and purposeful technology can transform games from mere acti...
"Moved To Move"
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What if PE class felt like a place where every student belongs—and every choice builds confidence? We sit down with veteran elementary PE teacher Will Westphal to unpack a practical, research-driven approach that turns movement into meaning. Will’s core promise is simple and bold: movement can make your life better. From there, he shows how autonomy, challenge, and connection create the conditions for real learning and lasting joy.
Will brings human motor learning out of the lab and into the gym with the OPTIMAL theory: enhance expectancies so students beli...
From PE Teacher To School Health Leader: How Brave and Healthy Spaces Help Kids Learn, Grow, and Thrive.
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What if schools stopped rewarding quiet compliance and started designing for how kids actually learn? We sat down with Shannon Milliken—founder of Play Education and former P.E teacher turned systems leader—to unpack how movement, health, and belonging can shift classrooms from survival mode to true learning. Shannon’s story traces the arc from overachieving student to educator to advocate, and it reveals the cost of “one size fits all” schooling on kids who think, move, and thrive differently.
We dig into the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) fram...
We’re Not Just Pressing Play On A Yoga Video
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Tired of PD that doesn’t fit your teaching space? We sit back down with educator Kristen Santos to unpack a practical, standards-aligned approach to yoga in PE that strengthens bodies, focuses minds, and gives teachers a clear roadmap. From a high school curriculum built on 54 foundational poses and nine targeted breaths to teacher-friendly guides and visual cue cards, Kristen shows how to move beyond videos to student-driven learning that’s easy to assess and adapt.
We explore how to scaffold yoga from K–8 to high school without jargon or religious language...
What Would Students Miss If Your PE Program Vanished Tomorrow?
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Feeling stretched thin or stuck on autopilot? We take a deep breath, slow the pace, and work through five reflective questions that help teachers, coaches, and PE leaders move from scattered to intentional.
We start by unpacking a lesson that landed: teaching cardiovascular endurance with relevance, clear cues, and a visual pacing scaffold that helped students focus on sustaining effort rather than chasing speed. From there, we confront resistance—why some students seem to give up fast—and how psychological safety, calibrated challenge, and behavior processing can turn frustration into growth. You’l...
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Thanks for listening! 🙏🏼 If you picked up a new idea or felt inspired by today’s episode. Please take a moment to follow the show and share it with another educator who’s passionate and let’s keep the conversation going!” I’d love to hear from you and if your interested in being a potential guest on the show; email mahperdpodcast@gmail.com
Equipment That Works, Support That Lasts GOPHER SPORT 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
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We sit down with Gopher Sport’s assistant marketing manager, Michael Ewen, to dive into the systems that help teachers deliver better lessons with less stress: a true satisfaction guarantee, teacher-designed equipment, and a ton of free professional development opportunities that are practical.
Michael traces his path from videographer to brand lead, showing how listening to educators turned feedback into product upgrades and new and unique designs. We talk through the 100% satisfaction guarantee with a real story of hassle-free replacements and how that promise doubles as research, guiding durable materials and sma...
National P.E TOY: Will Potter on Inclusive, Joyful Movement and Community Advocacy
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A surprise job interview at a Blockbuster counter set Will Potter on a path to becoming a national voice for quality elementary PE—and the spark behind a family‑powered movement that now advocates for programs across the country. We sit down with Will to unpack how a teacher‑first mindset, inclusive design, and open‑source sharing can turn a P.E. class into a community engine for leadership, SEL, and joy.
Will breaks down what OPEN—the Online Physical Education Network—really is: a free, nationwide network of teachers helping teachers wit...
Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
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When Dr. Neutzling managed physical education classes with 52 students in a Florida gymnasium, she never imagined that experience would lay the foundation for her pioneering work with artificial intelligence in education. Now serving as Associate Dean for the College of Education and Health Sciences at Bridgewater State University, Dr. Neutzling brings a unique perspective to the technology revolution transforming our classrooms.
Dr. Neutzling shares fascinating examples of how technology can enhance teaching and learning when used thoughtfully. She describes working with avatar simulations that allow pre-service teachers to practice classroom management...
A conversation with Brad Hunter: National APE Teacher Of The Year!
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As the 2025 Shape America National Adapted PE Teacher of the Year, Brad brings a refreshing perspective to adaptive physical education. Rather than focusing on what students can't do, he zeroes in on what standards are truly asking students to learn. "When you start opening yourself up to what am I actually being asked to teach the student—not what may be implied from our PE experience—that can be a huge unlock," Brad explains.
This approach has led to transformative moments in his Baltimore City Public Schools gymnasiums. A lunch table beco...
Movement as Medicine: Dance PL3Y
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Melanie Levenberg's journey from P.E. teacher to global movement educator is inspiring. She reimagined her relationship with movement, eventually creating Dance PL3Y—a program that has transformed physical education for over 4.1 million children across 13 countries.
What makes Melanie's approach unique is her philosophy. Rather than starting with technical instruction or choreography, she built her methodology around three core principles: be positive, be fun, be yourself. This philosophy shifts dance education from perfection-focused to expression-centered, creating safe spaces where students experience the joy of movement before worrying about pe...
Teaching For Health, Movement, and Connection
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What happens when a physical education teacher prioritizes relationships over rules and student choice over standardized instruction? Nick Morse, a health and physical education teacher at Hartnett Middle School, reveals how his innovative approach is transforming how students experience physical and health education.
Nick's journey begins with a pivotal childhood experience at summer camp that sparked his passion for physical activity and education. Years later, as a high school student working at that same camp, a mother's phone call thanking him for supporting her children after their father's passing solidified his c...
Purposeful PE: Insights on a quality program
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When you think of physical education, do you picture students mindlessly kicking balls around a gymnasium while a teacher blows a whistle? Dave Carney is on a mission to transform that outdated perception. With 14 years + of PE teaching experience following nine years in the classroom, Dave brings deep insight into what makes physical education truly meaningful.
"PE with a purpose" forms the cornerstone of Dave's philosophy. Instead of simply "rolling out the ball," he creates structured learning experiences aligned with standards and clear outcomes. Whether managing classes of 80-90 students with...
From Dance Studio to Third Grade: A Teacher's Journey
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When passion meets purpose, learning transforms. Tiana's story begins at sixteen, teaching ballet, tap, and jazz to preschoolers and special education dance classes—experiences that kindled her love for teaching long before formal education training. Now teaching third grade in East Hartford, Connecticut, she brings this dance background directly into her classroom through strategic movement breaks that help students regulate emotions and refocus their energy throughout the day.
What makes Tiana's story compelling is her commitment to creating learning environments where academic risk-taking is celebrated. "A classroom should be inclusive and lov...
The Human Element: Building Trust Through Project Adventure
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Meet Adam Joyce, a passionate Project Adventure teacher who's transforming physical education at Watertown High School. Coming from a family of educators , Adam discovered his calling after initially pursuing history education. Today, he's dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that teach students crucial life skills through experiential learning.
At the heart of Adam's approach is the belief that quality physical education begins with teachers who genuinely love what they do. This authentic enthusiasm creates the foundation for student engagement. Beyond passion, he emphasizes the importance of diverse PE programs that expose students...
The Power of Connection: Meet Maria Melchionda, MAHPERDS Executive Director
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In this illuminating conversation with Maria Melchionda, a 40-year veteran educator and executive director of MAHPERD, we explore the difference between qualified instruction and common misconceptions in the field.
Maria shares her journey from student to leader, revealing how a professor's simple invitation to join a professional organization set her on an unexpected path to leadership. With warmth and wisdom, she articulates why face-to-face professional connections remain irreplaceable in our digital era: "You cannot understand another human being without seeing social cues, without sitting down and having that eye contact or a...
Access for all through Innovative P.E.
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What happens when genuine passion for movement meets resourcefulness and creativity? Bradley Land, a K-8 physical education teacher from Phoenix, Arizona, demonstrates how innovative thinking and creativity can transform physical education without breaking the bank.
Bradley's journey to becoming an award-winning PE teacher took an unexpected path. Starting with a love for soccer and art, he discovered his true calling while working as a paraprofessional with special education students. His experience in adaptive PE shaped his teaching philosophy: creating accessible movement opportunities for every child regardless of ability or resources available.<...
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Welcome to , Voices from the Field
Join me as I sit down with educators, thought leaders, and professionals in Health and Physical Education (HPE) and related fields who are making a real impact. Through candid conversations and powerful storytelling, our guests share their journeys, insights, and the action steps that led them to where they are today.
This podcast is all about moving beyond the status quo. Our guests aren’t just talking about change—they’re out there making it happen. Whethe...
Breathing Life into PE Class : A Teacher's Journey
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How can physical education teachers incorporate yoga in ways that benefit all students? Award-winning P.E. teacher Kristen Santos takes us on her unexpected journey from cancer diagnosis to becoming a leading advocate for yoga in physical education.
When Kristen's oncologist first recommended yoga during her breast cancer treatment in 2016, she was skeptical. "I thought it was for old, middle-aged women," she admits candidly. That reluctance transformed into passion as she discovered how breathing techniques and mindful movement helped her navigate life's challenges. "Yoga doesn't solve your problems," she reflects, "but i...
Digital Resources, Leadership, and Advocacy in PE:
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The power of quality physical education reaches far beyond the gymnasium walls. When students experience meaningful, well-designed PE programs, they become lifelong advocates for the profession as future parents, school board members, and community leaders.
In this enlightening conversation with Mark and Becky Foellmer, we explore how technology and collaboration are transforming physical education. The Foellmer's, retired educators who now dedicate themselves to leadership roles in professional organizations, share their journey from classroom teachers to creators of CBHPE.org—a free resource platform that has helped nearly 900,000 visitors access user friendly te...
From Billboard to Breakthrough: An Educator's Journey
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Meet Ginger Aaron-Brush, a veteran physical educator whose 25-year teaching career has shaped how we think about quality physical education. From an unexpected career path—sparked by a random college bulletin board flyer—to becoming Alabama's Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year, Ginger's journey reveals how passion and structured teaching can transform students' physical literacy.
What happens when you teach 75 elementary students physical education simultaneously? Ginger shares her masterful approach to large-group instruction, emphasizing immediate engagement through "instant activities," structured skill development, and thoughtful assessment strategies. Her philosophy centers on buil...
Dr. Glencross's Journey
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A passionate educator's journey from PE-avoider to professor reveals powerful lessons about inclusive physical education. Dr. Hillary Glencross candidly shares how she once did everything possible to escape "gym" class – obtaining doctor's notes, hiding in the nurse's office, or sitting on the bleachers – until one persistent high school coach refused to let her disengage. This transformative experience sparked her mission to reimagine physical education as engaging and accessible for all students.
Now a professor at Salem State University preparing the next generation of PE teachers, Dr. Glencross brings real-world expertise from her...
From Rugby Coach to Professor: One Educator's Route to Success
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What makes an extraordinary physical educator? For Dr. Jenny Linker, it begins with relationship-building—a foundational skill that precedes all technical knowledge. In this compelling conversation, she reveals how her unconventional journey from psychology major to rugby coach ultimately led to becoming a respected professor and School of Education head at North Dakota State University.
Dr. Linker's innovative "Let's Move in Homeschool" program showcases the power of experiential learning for both future teachers and the community they serve. For 13 years, this initiative has connected undergraduate PE students with homeschooled children, creating a...
Health Education Leadership: From The Classroom to Director's Chair
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From the basketball court to the classroom to district leadership, Jill Foley's journey embodies the vibrant, multifaceted world of health education. As MAHPERD'S president and Director of Comprehensive Health and Wellness for Revere Public Schools, Jill brings a refreshing perspective on what it means to truly support student wellbeing.
Jill's candid reflection on her unexpected career path reveals how one conversation with a mentor completely redirected her professional trajectory. After years in strength conditioning, she took a leap of faith into education—a decision that shaped her approach to teaching and le...
Outdoor Education: Transforming Lives Through Adventure
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What if the key to transformative education isn't found in textbooks or standardized curriculum, but in the quality of relationships between teachers and students? Springfield College professors Angela Veach and Ted France challenge conventional wisdom about what constitutes meaningful learning as they share their expertise on adventure education.
Drawing from decades of combined experience, these educators reveal how Springfield College's unique 57-acre outdoor learning center serves as a laboratory for experiential education. Students don't just learn theory—they immediately apply concepts by facilitating real groups in authentic settings. This hands-on approach cr...
Assessment: The Untapped Power in Physical Education
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Josh Ogilvie brings over two decades of physical education expertise to this eye-opening conversation about transforming assessment practices. As a secondary PE teacher, provincial association president, and curriculum developer in British Columbia, Josh shares practical wisdom that challenges traditional approaches while offering accessible alternatives.
The discussion travels beyond surface-level teaching strategies to explore what truly constitutes quality physical education. Josh articulates how intentional planning and responsive teaching create meaningful student experiences, contrasting this with the reactive approaches some educators default to during challenging times. His candid...
Saying Yes: How Embracing Opportunities Shapes P.E. Careers
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Dr. Cathy Moffitt's 37-year journey in physical education reveals the profound impact a dedicated educator can have on generations of students. Having taught in the Chariho District for nearly four decades, Dr. Moffitt brings a wealth of wisdom about creating engaging, inclusive physical education experiences that build lifelong movement foundations.
What drives Dr. Moffitt's teaching philosophy might surprise you - her own childhood experiences during PE. "I was that kid who looked for the clovers when we were playing softball," she shares, explaining how this sparked her determination to create more...
Coaching PE Teachers: Insights from an Instructional Expert
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Gary Zaharatos is a Physical Education Peer Observer and Instructional Coach in Denver Public Schools. He spends his days coaching and evaluating physical education teachers throughout the city. He has dedicated his career to supporting teachers as they strive to implement high quality instruction in physical education. Gary holds a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
Having twenty years of experience in public education, Gary has taught, observed and provided feedback on thousands of PE lessons and was named Administrator of...
