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PrintFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
National Association for Sport and Physical Education to Honor Toppenish High School's Doris Dorr with Unsung Hero for Youth Award
RESTON, VA, March 8, 2011 – For leading a successful after school weight loss program which has helped obese girls earn confidence, poise and self-assurance in a life of potential neglect, abuse and dysfunction, physical education teacher Doris Dorr of Toppenish High School in Toppenish, Washington will receive the Unsung Hero for Youth Award from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) during the week-long national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).
Sponsored by the NASPE Past Presidents Circle, the award is in recognition of a physical education teacher or sport coach from the district co-hosting the convention who has gone the extra mile to support youth. In appreciation for all that this person has contributed, the individual is invited to participate in the 126th annual convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), as the guest of the NASPE Past Presidents. Along with her award, Dorr will receive a one-year membership to NASPE/AAHPERD as well as travel, accommodations and registration to attend the convention.
This honor will be recognized at the NASPE Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, April 1, at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel in San Diego, California. Other honorees that evening include the National Physical Education Teachers of the Year for Elementary, Middle and High School, the National Physical Education Administrator of the Year as well as the Athletic Director of the Year. Golf great Annika Sörenstam will be inducted that evening into the NASPE Hall of Fame. The banquet is sponsored by Playworld Systems®, a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground equipment and the creator of ENERGI™ Total Body Fitness System.
"The greatest rewards for me come from working with my students to help them find their physical self and learn to love physical activity," Dorr said. "So many of them have gained enough confidence to begin playing a sport, and enjoy passing on this knowledge about healthy living to their families."
NASPE Past President Fran Cleland stated, "We commend Doris Dorr for the valuable program she has developed to serve at-risk youth at Toppenish High School as well as her contributions at the state level toward the establishment of Health and Fitness Standards and Assessment procedures. The NASPE Past Presidents are thrilled that we are able to recognize one hero who is clearly making a difference in students' present and future lives."
Toppenish High School has a poverty rate of 89% with a make up of 85.5% Hispanic, 9.9% Native American and 4.5% Caucasian. According to Lisa Rakoz, supervisor of Health and Physical Education for the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, "Doris leads a very successful after school weight loss program for obese girls where the average weight loss is nearly 70 pounds each year for each girl. Some girls have stayed in the program for two to three years since most start the program weighing over 300 pounds. To describe her passion and love for children she leads this program as a volunteer effort to give back to her community. The program has earned the girls confidence, poise and self-assurance in a life of potential neglect, abuse and dysfunction."
Dorr has a firm understanding of how to teach students that good health and safety principles can lead to a lifetime of healthy practices, resulting in more productive, active and successful lives. In addition to the two-hour daily after school workouts, students learn about healthy eating habits by participating in cooking labs that expose them to new and healthy foods as well as teach healthy preparation techniques.
Besides working in her after school program and maintaining a full-time teaching position, Doris has worked the last five years as a lead instructor and trainer with the development and training of health and fitness assessments for Washington State. She has also been a leader in the physical education arena presenting on quality physical education at conferences and workshops across Washington State.
A graduate of Central Washington University with majors in physical education, health education and paramedics, Dorr earned her Master's Degree from Heritage University and she has her National Board Certification. She is a member of the Washington Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (WAHPERD) as well as several local city and county organizations.
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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.
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.