FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Walla Walla High School's Gayle See to be Honored at National Educators Convention

Walla Walla resident Gayle R. See, Physical Education Instructor and Adaptive Physical Education Instructor (grades 9-12), Walla Walla High School, Washington, will be honored on Friday, April 11 in Fort Worth, Texas, at the annual convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), with the Joy of Effort Award by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).

According to NASPE President Craig Buschner of California State University at Chico, "This award is given in recognition of those individuals who, by performance and style, have personified the concept that the effort made to enrich the goals and objectives of physical education and sport is a labor of love, inspired by commitment and dedication."

The award will be presented at NASPE's Hall of Fame Banquet where the National Physical Education Teachers of the Year for Elementary, Middle School and High School, the National Physical Education Administrator of the Year as well as the Athletic Director of the Year Award will be announced. Track and field Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis will be inducted into the NASPE Hall of Fame.  

"Gayle is an exceptional peer. She displays a tremendous amount of passion, and is committed to her profession, students and colleagues," said Laurie Morley, Ed.D., Program Director of Health & Fitness, Eastern Washington University.  "She possesses all the characteristics you look for in an effective educator, such as knowledge of content area, enthusiasm for the subject material and mentor."

See has shared her expertise on K-12 physical education and adapted physical education by presenting at conferences and workshops at the state, regional and national levels. A grant recipient, she has been instrumental in writing and receiving six grants including a U.S. Department of Education Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) grant to improve and update existing fitness equipment and assessment.

Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)/American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the Northwest District Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NWDAHPERD), the Washington Alliance for Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (WAHPERD) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. A member and leader of WAHPERD for over 20 years, See has served as Division Vice President and President. She has been Division Vice President, chair of numerous committees and is the current Treasurer for the NWDAHPERD.

See received her Bachelors of Science in Physical Education from Washington State University and her Masters of Education in Educational Technology from City University. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood Physical Education.

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 16,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs through research, development of standards, and dissemination of information. It is the largest of the five national associations that make the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). To assess whether your child is receiving a quality physical education program, visit www.naspeinfo.org/  for an observation assessment tool.

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Contact:
Paula Keyes Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
(703) 476-3461

The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE’s 15,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, administrators, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare professionals in these areas. NASPE seeks to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice, and increase support for high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity programs. It is the largest of the five national associations that make up the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (AAHPERD). For more information, visit www.naspeinfo.org.

The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport--all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.