Sportime International Sponsors Year 2000 NASPE Teachers Of The Year

April 13, 2000 - The National Association for Sport And Physical Education (NASPE) announced the five national Teachers of the Year for 2000, at their recent national convention in Orlando, Fla. District Teacher of the Year recipients were also honored at the event. All recipients are recognized for outstanding teaching performance and the ability to motivate todays youth to participate in a lifetime of physical activity.
Sportime is in its 11th year of acting as a major sponsor of the award, in a continuing effort towards improving the quality of physical education.

National Elementary School Physical Educator Of The Year - Rhonda Holt
Rhonda Holt, a physical education teacher for nearly 24 years at Peterson Elementary school in Wichita, Kan., is named NASPEs National Elementary School Physical Educator Of The Year.
Bobbie Harris, of Wichita State University, said, Rhonda Holt, who teaches children the appreciation of movement and the value of physical activity, is a leader in elementary physical education, and she has set the standard by which others model their programs for many years. Her professional expertise and experience are exemplary, and her commitment to health and physical education is outstanding."
The award-winning physical educator received the school districts Good Apple" Award for excellence in teaching in 1996. She is a member of the Kansas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (KAHPERD), National Education Association and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), among other professional organizations. Ms. Holt received her bachelors and masters degrees from Friends University.

National Middle School Physical Educator Of The Year - Christopher Morrill
A physical education teacher for nearly 16 years at Barrington Middle School in Barrington, N.H., Christopher Morrill is named NASPEs National Middle School Physical Educator Of The Year.
Peter Waburton, principal of Barrington Middle School, said, I am impressed with the professionalism that Chris Morrill displays with parents, students and colleagues. A true asset to Barrington, he is an outstanding educator who promotes positive interaction."
Morrill has presented at numerous professional conventions and workshops including those for the New Hampshire Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NHAHPERD), Maine and New Hampshire Soccer Associations and the Seacoast Collaborative Physical Education Workshop. He also assists prospective educators each year from the University of New Hampshire.
A graduate of Keene State College and the University of New Hampshire, Morrill is a member of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), National Education Association, New Hampshire Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance and the New Hampshire Governors Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, among others.

National High School Physical Educator Of The Year - Dale E. Kephart
A physical education instructor since 1996 at Dimond High School, in Anchorage, Alaska, Dale E. Kephart is named NASPEs National High School Physical Educator Of The Year.
In regards to Ms. Kepharts contributions, Dimond High School Assistant Principal Ron Parker said, Ms. Kephart is the epitome of energy and enthusiasm, thus making learning fun and enjoyable. She truly leads by example and commitment."
Besides her commitment in the classroom, she has a long and successful history of professional involvement with the Alaska Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AKAHPERD), Anchorage Education Association, USA Gymnastics and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). She has provided in-service training for her colleagues and has participated in a variety of workshops and conferences at the state and national levels. A member of the Anchorage School Districts Physical Education Curriculum Revision Committee, Ms. Kephart has presented at Alaska AHPERD conventions and has developed, organized and implemented new physical education units at the secondary level. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, Seattle, and the University of Nevada, Reno.

National Adapted Physical Educator Of The Year - John Passarini
John Passarini, of Lexington, Mass., is named Adapted Physical Educator Of The Year by the American Association For Active Lifestyles And Fitness. Passarini is a master level teacher at Wayland public schools, with 30 years experience in public education.
Although this award has been presented five times previously, this is the first year there has been competition requiring the candidates be state and/or district winners before being considered at the national level. Passarini was also named the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) Adapted Physical Education Teacher Of The Year.
John is well respected throughout Massachusetts for his outstanding grasp of all issues related to adapted physical education," said Fran Bevans, MAHPERDs honors and awards chair. He is able to communicate with a wide range of parents, staff and administrators, while serving students in all five schools and in seven different programs.
Gary A. Burton, Waylands School Superintendent, said of Passerini, There are few professionals in the district who develop such an excellent set of interpersonal relationships and perform at such an excellent level as John Passarini."

National Dance Educator Of The Year - Cheryl Willis, Ed.D.
A teacher of creative dance to approximately 900 students per week in Vancouver, Canada, Cheryl Willis, Ed.D. is named this years Dance Educator Of The Year by the National Dance Association.
Ms. Willis received her doctorate in dance from Temple University. She also has an M.A. as a reading specialist from Cardinal Stritch University, a B.A. in Elementary Education from Our Lady of Holy Cross College and a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Wisconsin.
Ms. Willis has published several articles on dance education in JOPERD magazine and has published and presented several scholarly works on rhythm tap, African American history, dance and aesthetics. She is currently working on a book that focuses on survival techniques" for creative dance teachers.
Her focus is to teach respect for the ideas and personal space of others, allow children the power to assume ownership for their projects and to give students the opportunity to express themselves through the arts.

Other NASPE 2000 Award Recipients:

Joy Of Effort Award
Deborah Tannehill, Pacific lutheran University

National Athletic Director Of The Year
James Piccolo, Stanwood High School, Wash.

Athletic Director Of The Year -
Regional Recipients:
Gerry L. Gdowski, Fremont High School, Neb. - Central
William J. Lesinski, Consolidated Schools of New Britain, Conn. - Eastern
Fredrick J. Smith, Comstock High School, Mich. - Midwest
Frederick McHenry, Ouachita Parish High School, La. - Southern
James Piccolo, Stanwood High School, Wash. - Western

Elementary School Physical Education Teacher Of The Year -
District Recipients:
Rhonda Holt, Peterson Elementary School, Kan. - Central
Andy Schmidt, Ann Blance Smith Elementary School, N.J. - Eastern
Carolyn Nelson, Olentangy Local Schools, Ohio - Midwest
Nancy Winford, Weller Elementary School, Ala. - Northwest
Scott Diller, R. Earle Davis Elementary School, S.C. - Southern
Kathy Kemp, Towne Meadows Elementary School, Ariz. - Southwest

Middle School Physical Education Teacher Of The Year -
District Recipients:
Jennifer Stipetich, Liberty Middle School, Mo. - Central
Chris Morrill, Barrington Middle School, N.H. - Eastern
Gerald Workman, Madison Middle School, W.Va. - Midwest
Kelly Jay Robertson, Helena Middle School, Mont. - Northwest
Cheryl Deal, McConnell Middle School, Ga. - Southern
Cathie Summerford, Apple Valley Middle School, Calif. - Southwest
Secondary School Physical Education Teacher Of The Year -
District Recipients:
Julie Lueckenhoff, Helias High School, Mo. - Central
Cathy Haight, Blair Oaks High School, N.Y. - Eastern
Debbi Rummel, Antioch Community High School, Ill. - Midwest
Dale Kephart, Dimond High School, Ala. - Northwest
Lynn Hazel, South Broward High School, Fla. - Southern

Located in Atlanta, Ga., Sportime is the worlds most innovative catalog retailer in the physical education market. With over 340 pages, the Sportime catalog features products for kindergarten through adult program levels. Visit Sportimes web site at www.sportime.com.
Sportime is also the publisher of Abilitations, the industrys leading catalog of rehabilitation equipment for the development and restoration of physical and mental ability through movement.
Sportime is a subsidiary of School Specialty, Inc., the largest supplier of non-textbook educational products in the United States.

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Media Contact:
Donna Johnson
Phone: 770-449-5700, ext. 306
E-mail: dmj@sportime.com