FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NC Department of Public Instruction Official Kymm Ballard to be Honored at National Educators Convention

Kymm Ballard, K-12 Programs, Physical Education, Athletic and Sport Medicine Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, will be honored with the Channing Mann Physical Education Administrator of the Year Award by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) at the annual convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), April 8-12, in Fort Worth, Texas.  The award is sponsored by Walk4Life, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of quality pedometers.

The award will be presented at the NASPE Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, April 11, where the National Physical Education Teachers of the Year for Elementary, Middle School and High School 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.

According to NASPE President Craig Buschner of California State University at Chico, "This award honors an individual who exemplifies the highest standards in accomplishment and innovation, strong and vigorous leadership and significant scholarship within the field."

Ballard's personal commitment and willingness to serve includes leadership positions at the local, state and national levels.  At the local level her work includes helping numerous school districts to develop K-12 physical education programs based on state standards, the identification and support of the National Physical Education Demonstration School program (President's Council on Fitness and sports), STARS, and the implementation of the federal Local Wellness Policy directive.  As part of a coordinated school health approach, Ballard has been a key figure at the state level in the promotion of quality staff development, advocacy with the State Board of Education, and helping to secure a model three-year, $400,000 grant from the North Carolina Health & Wellness Trust Fund for the state AHPERD organization. Improving the Prevention of Obesity and Disease (iPOD) will increase the capacity of the state to promote research-based obesity prevention programming through a collaborative partnership with physical education higher education pedagogy programs and targeted school districts across North Carolina. Additionally, Ballard helped organize one million dollars from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust Fund for NC PEP grants to needy schools.  Thirty-five schools received an average of $30,000 to improve their physical education programs and bring them into the 21st Century.  This is the largest state-level grant ever awarded specially for the promotion of physical education. 

At the national level Ballard has served as the president of the Society of State Directors for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (SSDHPER), and as a member of the board of directors of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and chair of the District and Public Relations Committee.  In addition, she serves as a national trainer for the new Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health and is currently serving on a new innovative committee to review and direct the changing roll of the physical education in this new generation lead by Dr. George Graham.

 A graduate of Appalachian State University with her bachelor's and master's degree in physical education, she is currently pursuing her doctorate in education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Exercise Sport Science.

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. The mission of NASPE is 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/observePE  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.