FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)
Names Cheryl Richardson New Senior Director of Programs

RESTON, VA, May 21, 2012—The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) has promoted Cheryl Richardson as its senior director of programs. In her new role, she will oversee program development for physical education, physical activity, sport, and dance in addition to representing the association to both external organizations and the media, serving as a content expert to members and sponsors, and be relied upon as a credible voice in the field.

Richardson served as a senior program manager for the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), which is the largest of the national associations of AAHPERD, for the last three years before accepting the position in April.

We had many outstanding applicants for the position but Cheryl's work with NASPE/AAHPERD speaks for itself, making her stand out among the rest. She successfully managed and led several of our initiatives including NASPE's Director of Physical Activity Certification program which launched in the spring and developed content for AAHPERD's Let's Move in School (LMIS) initiative, working to ensure students nationwide receive opportunities to be physically active throughout the day," says AAHPERD CEO E. Paul Roetert. "We recognize Cheryl's broad expertise in physical education, sport and adapted physical activity and look forward to seeing her lead our organization in this new position."

In her previous job, Richardson raised interest in another one of NASPE's national initiatives-- PE2020, which focuses on the future of physical education. Under her leadership, NASPE received more than 2,000 submissions from physical educators, policy makers, parents and other key supporters. She also leads PE Metrics Online, the association's first web application.

"An AAHPERD member since 1999 and a staff member since 2008, I am extremely delighted to continue serving members and the organization's long standing tradition in providing exciting programs, products, and services to meet the needs of today's physical educators. In my new role, I hope to increase the quality of what we have to offer as well as the relevance," says Cheryl Richardson, senior director of programs.

Prior to NASPE, Richardson worked as a K-12 physical educator and coached basketball, softball and cross-country in the Hortonville Area School District in Hortonville, WI, where her school received NASPE STARS recognition and one of the country's first Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) grants for its outstanding physical education program.

Richardson holds a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science-Teaching and an M.S. in Human Performance from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

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Contact:
Paula 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.