Educators Honored for Contributions to Student Health

Nashville, TN – State and local educators were honored for exceptional roles in promoting student health and well-being at the Tennessee Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) annual convention. A new award was established this year in honor of Tennessee’s Director of Coordinated School Health Partnerships, Connie Givens. Ms. Givens is the first recipient of the award created to honor individuals or school districts who promote physical education, health education and/or physical activity.

“Governor Bredesen’s top priorities of education and health come together in the coordinated school health partnerships,” Education Commissioner Lana Seivers said. “These school-based partnerships address these critical areas by improving the health of students so they can focus on their job of learning.”

Coordinated school health partnerships seek to create a community-wide culture focused on physical, mental and emotional health. Among the goals is to make it easier for students and families to access the health services they need.

Educators across Tennessee received the following awards for their contributions to improving student health:

• Elementary Physical Educator of the Year – Diana Coleman, Memphis City
• Secondary Physical Educator of the Year – Tracy McClain, Davidson County
• College Educator of the Year – Sarah Adams, Belmont University, Nashville
• Jump Rope for the Heart Coordinator of the Year – Mike Vaughn, Murfreesboro City

“I commend these educators and Ms. Givens on their hard work to improve the lives of Tennessee’s young people,” said Dr. Robert Greene, Assistant Commissioner for Resource and Support Services. “Because of the amount of time students spend at school, it is essential to provide an environment where their health and well-being is of greatest importance. We are fortunate in Tennessee to have a Governor who invests resources in meeting this goal.”

The coordinated school health partnership model was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address eight areas: physical education and activity; health education; nutrition services; school health services; counseling, psychological and social services; healthy and safe school environment; student, family and community involvement in schools; and health promotion for staff. Tennessee is the first state in the nation to mandate and fund coordinated school health partnerships in every school system.

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@state.tn.us.