FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

National Association for Sport and Physical Education to Honor University of Limerick's Deborah Tannehill

RESTON, VA, March 20, 2009 – Dr. Deborah Tannehill, senior lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the University of Limerick, Ireland, will receive the Curriculum and Instruction Honor Award for her accomplishments as a leader in physical education teacher education from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) during the national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). Tannehill will be recognized at the NASPE Curriculum and Instruction Breakfast on Friday, April 3, at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in Tampa, Florida.                         

         A national recognition, the Curriculum and Instruction Honor Award is given each year to honor a member of the Curriculum and Instruction Academy for significant contributions through scholarship or service in the area of physical education curriculum and instruction.              

         Tannehill is a course director for the Graduate Diploma in Education-Physical Education, Course Director of the MSc in Teaching Physical Education, and co-director of the Physical Education, Physical Activity and Youth Sport Research Center.  Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Limerick, Tannehill was professor and assistant dean at Pacific Lutheran University and professor at The Ohio State University.  She taught physical education at the middle school level for 10 years, and coached athletics at the collegiate level for six years. Tannehill received her undergraduate degree in physical education from Washington State University, her masters in guidance and counseling from Seattle University and her Ph.D. in teacher education physical education from the University of Idaho.                  

         Tannehill has been professionally active in both the USA and Ireland having served as editor of the National Association of Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) Assessment Series, NASPE Publications Coordinator, chair of the NASPE National Beginning Teaching Standards, the NASPE/NCATE Teacher Education Program Guidelines, and the Task Force for revision of the K–12 Content Standards. A member of the Physical Education Association of Ireland (PEAI), she works with physical education teachers through a national community of practice initiative and an urban schools project. Tannehill is past co-­editor of the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, served on the editorial board of Quest, and is currently a reviewer for the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.                                  

          Throughout her distinguished career Tannehill has conducted research on teaching and teacher education in physical education, and has published frequently in both scholarly and applied journals with more than 45 articles, 15 book chapters, and co-author of two textbooks; Developing Teaching Skills in Physical Education with Daryl Siedentop and Standards-Based Curriculum Development in Physical Education with Jackie Lund. Currently her work is focused on curriculum development and assessment.

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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.

AAHPERD, an alliance of five national associations, six district associations, and a Research Consortium, provides 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. It is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, dance, health promotion and all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. AAHPERD serves 20,000 members and has its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, 25 miles west of Washington DC. To learn more, visit www.aahperd.org.