SEATTLE -- The leader of the Seattle Public Schools Physical Education program was recently awarded Physical Education Administrator of the year. Lori Dunn, Seattle Public Schools' Physical Education and Health Literacy Program Manager, received the SHAPE America's top award for physical education administrators.
"It's not just me. It's a shared acknowledgment," Dunn said. "Our administrator has been very supportive and we're changing the culture of what physical education has been. It's not our parents' way of roll out the ball and it's not survival of the fittest. There's standards that have to be targeted and assessed. We're looking at a well-rounded education."
Dunn has accomplished many things in her role including writing and leading a team of physical education specialists who wrote a curriculum. One of the more unique items is that she's formed community partnerships throughout the city of Seattle where students, pre-k-12th grade, can learn various activities from professionals who specialize in the sports. Her partnerships include the Cascade Bike Club, First Tee Golf, U.S. Tennis Association, Washington Soccer, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Medic One, Cascade Volleyball, and the George Pocock Rowing Foundation.
The George Pocock Rowing Foundation on Thursday taught the sport to students at Broadview-Thomson K-8 School in Seattle. The foundation sees the opportunity to continue to build their sport.
"Our community, our supporters, our staff, we are passionate about the sport of rowing, and we are fortunate because we have been able to bring our sport to the school in a very unique way," George Pocock Rowing Foundation Deputy Director Karla Landis said. "We really were interested in making sure that our sport was available as possible to kids, and in order to do that we needed to make sure to break down some clear and obvious barriers to our sport and moving it to the classroom really was the best way we could think of to do that."
Dunn prides herself in making sure the sports are available to all kids from every background and walk of life. She works with the different organizations to make sure students are able to take part in the sport outside of the classroom if they find it's something they like. The community organizations are funded through grants, school resources, and fundraisers.
