National Physical Education Standards Task Force MEMBER PROFILES
Dan DeJager, MS, NBCT Physical Education Teacher, San Juan Unified School District (California) I am excited about these revised standards because I think they meet the needs of today’s physical education teachers and students. As physical educators we only have a limited amount of time to make a positive impact on our students. We need to make the most of it. Every school in America is unique. These standards are flexible enough to allow teachers to adjust their curriculum to meet the needs of their students while providing guidance for teachers in how they can help students learn the skills, knowledge, and reflection that will support them in being physically active for life.
Brad Brummel, M. Ed. Coordinator of Physical Education, Health, and Engagement Activities, Springfield Public Schools (Missouri) I’m excited about the new structure and organization of the revised National Physical Education Standards. The grade spans support student development and teacher planning — and provide consistency with the National Health Education Standards. I’m very proud of the work the task force has put into revising the standards.
Clancy Seymour, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Canisius University (New York) I’m most excited about the fact that the new SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards support practitioners in cultivating each child’s physical literacy journey with meaning and relevance. The new standards provide a more holistic view of physical education and encourage physical educators to explore learning experiences in movement, through movement, and about movement proposed by scholars historically.
Amanda Amtmanis, M. Ed. Physical Education Teacher, Middletown Public Schools (Connecticut) A change in the new standards that I would like to highlight is the incorporation of skill progressions that will allow for a more differentiated and individualized approach that recognizes that everyBODY is different. What I am most excited about is the robustness of Standards 3 and 4. The task force worked really hard to write indicators and progressions for these standards that are observable and measurable, which should help teachers create learning opportunities that develop important interpersonal and intrapersonal skills that students need in order to fully enjoy all of the benefits of engaging in physical activity and understand themselves as movers. If students are able to do that, they can take ownership of their development as movers and have the tools they need to continue to seek out, engage in, and enjoy physical activities throughout their lifetime. Winter 2024 • Momentum
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