American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Health and Physical Educators Tackle Teacher Accountability, Health-Related Fitness Assessment and Teaching 21st Century Skills at the 128th Annual AAHPERD National Convention & Expo

RESTON, VA, November 30, 2012—From demonstrating teacher effectiveness, health-related fitness assessment and the new Presidential Youth Fitness Program, to connecting to the Common Core Standards, thousands of health and physical educators will address these hot button topics at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance's (AAHPERD) 128th National Convention and Exposition. The annual convention will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 23-27 in conjunction with the Southern District and the North Carolina AAHPERD at the Charlotte Convention Center. Nearly 5,000 people from the profession are expected to attend the annual meeting.

"Our theme this year is 'Drive Your Future.' The hope is to inspire our members to raise the bar, to reach new heights, and walk away with the confidence and know how to exceed their own expectations in teaching health and physical education and fostering the growth of physically active students," says AAHPERD President Irene Cucina of Plymouth State University, New Hampshire.

On Wednesday, April 24 attendees may choose to participate in an exclusive evening event at the NASCAR Hall of Fame at a discounted entry fee. This state of the art facility honors the sport of auto racing and NASCAR legends. NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, who is also a member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, has been invited. Visitors can test their skills against those of their friends in the racecar driving simulator and compete in an exhilarating pit crew challenge.

 Kicking off the convention will be Dr. Jim Loehr, co-founder of the Human Performance Institute, and Mark Fenton, a public health, planning, and transportation consultant who works to help America find its way to more active and more livable cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Loehr will headline the AAHPERD General Session, presenting "Using Movement to Build Multi-Dimensional Strength," on Wednesday, April 24. Fenton will be AAPAR's keynote speaker on Thursday, April 25 and will share his blueprint for active communities, including parks, trails, safer streets and sidewalks, and other infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling.

Wednesday afternoon, April 24, a special Intergenerational Tribute will be held to celebrate Dr. LeRoy T. Walker's influence on the HPERD profession. In this tribute to Dr. Walker (1918-2012), the first African American President of AAHPERD and the first African American President of the Olympic Committee, individuals will share memories of him and his impact. The session concludes with a roundtable discussion of ideas for continuing his vision of increasing student involvement and leadership of persons of color within the HPERD profession. 

The AAHPERD Social Justice and Diversity Committee is contacting Professors of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at Historically Black Colleges & Universities in the Southern District states to invite them and their students to take advantage of the broad array of experiences provided by the National AAHPERD Convention & Expo.

All undergraduate students are invited to attend special programming on the mornings of April 24, 25 and 26. Professional development topics covered at the Forum will include: mentoring, networking, advocacy, majors clubs, and career building tips and strategies. On Wednesday AAHPERD President Irene Cucina will present a session on "Let's Move in School." Thursday's program includes an opportunity to gain and share ideas for active and successful Majors Clubs. The Forum concludes on Friday with a Speed Interviewing activity. More information about the Forum is on the website.

Other Program Highlights

AAHE: Common Core: Challenges and Successes Integrating with Health Education and The Emerging Role of Health Educators to Prevent Childhood Obesity

AAHE: Innovative Practices to Reduce Bullying and Alcohol and Drug Use

AAPAR: The National Physical Activity Plan: Implementation at the State Level; West Virginia's Be Wild! Be Wonderful! Be Active! Campaign will be shared and strategies will be discussed to assist other states' leaders as they develop state-specific physical activity plans.

AAPAR: Bank of America Stadium Tour on Friday, April 26. AAPAR's Council on Facilities and Equipment sponsors this unique tour of Bank of America Stadium, home to the Carolina Panthers.

NAGWS: The annual NAGWS Rachel Bryant Memorial Lecture and Awards will feature the 2012 Rachel Bryant Memorial Lecture Award honoree, Pat Griffin, Director of Changing the Game: The GLSEN Sports Project. The Lecture takes place Friday, April 26.

NAGWS: Females Hired as NCAA Head Coaches: The Secrets Revealed

NASPE: Teacher Effectiveness in Physical Education; an exploration of the seven practices taking teachers from good to great.

NASPE: Coaching Education Day: Tom Farrey, an investigative journalist for ESPN and Executive Director of the Aspen Institute's Sports and Society Program, will moderate "Are Athletes Born or Made?," a panel discussion on early sport specialization, talent identification, and talent development as well as highlight efforts being made to bring a lifetime athlete development model to the United States.

NDA: 2012 National Dance Educator of the Year Kimberleigh Anderson will present Improvisational Activities for the Dance Class.   

NDA: Gladys Keeton of Texas Women's University will present Pushing the Envelope: Choreographic Tools for Grades 6-12.

Research Consortium: Raymond A. Weiss Lecture: Mary Jo Kane of the University of Minnesota will speak on Media Representations of Female Athletes—The Good, the Bad, and the Sexy on Wednesday, April 24.

Research Consortium: Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Lecture: Science and Art of Setting Standards (Cutoff Scores) in Kinesiology

Visit the 2013 convention page for continuous updates to scheduled program sessions, workshops, networking events, list of exhibitors, and ticketed events such as the NASPE Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, April 26.  

Early registration discounted rates are underway until January 15. Microsoft is the official early registration sponsor for the 2013 convention. From physical education to classroom instruction, educators nationally are leveraging the benefits of Kinect for XBOX 360 to engage students, keep them active and learning. For more information, visit Microsoft in Education.

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Contact:
Paula Kun
pkun@aahperd.org
703-476-3485

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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.