Spotlight - Governors Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

Teacher In The Spotlight

Kurt Suhr
Newport Heights Elementary

GOLD MEDALIST

Kurt Suhr, Principal of Newport Heights Elementary School, has been selected as a finalist for Principal of the Year, for piloting a new approach to get physical education back into elementary schools. Principal Suhr’s leadership has influenced physical education instruction in more than 600 classrooms and 100 after-school programs across Orange County. In addition, Principal Suhr has implemented a Breakfast Club to reward students who walk to school and a new Active Playground plan that increases physical activity during recess and lunch.

More Teachers In The Spotlight

Los Angeles

Christine Berni-Ramos Elizabeth Learning Center
GOLD MEDALIST Christine Berni-Ramos, nationally board certified physical education teacher at the Elizabeth Learning Center, a K-12 school in Cudahy, has been selected as a finalist for Teacher of the Year for going above and beyond the call of duty to attract a state of the art fitness center for the school's high school students, a Nike 3x3 soccer program that engages her middle schools students to continually stay ... Read More »

San Diego

Chris Paccione Cardiff Elementary School
SILVER MEDALIST Chris Paccione, physical education teacher at Cardiff School in San Diego County, has been selected as a finalist for Teacher of the Year for her leadership in creating a Body Shop fitness room for her school by gathering used fitness equipment for students and teachers. Mrs. Paccione introduced the Get Fit, Don’t Sit Equipment Bags program that allows students to bring home sports equipment to play with ... Read More »

Los Angeles

Maggie Yu-DiPasquale Allesandro Elementary
BRONZE MEDALIST Maggie Yu-Dipasquale, first grade classroom teacher at Allesandro Elementary in Silver Lake, has been selected as a finalist for Teacher of the Year for taking the initiative with her school principal to implement a school-wide P.E. program. Mrs. Yu-Dipasquale’s passion for educating kids about the importance of physical activity is infectious and contributed to her school’s selection out of a pool of 115 Los Angeles Unified schools ... Read More »