Shows
MAHPERD "Voices From The field"Movement as Medicine: Dance PL3YSend us a textMelanie Levenberg's journey from P.E. teacher to global movement educator is inspiring. She reimagined her relationship with movement, eventually creating Dance PL3Y—a program that has transformed physical education for over 4.1 million children across 13 countries.What makes Melanie's approach unique is her philosophy. Rather than starting with technical instruction or choreography, she built her methodology around three core principles: be positive, be fun, be yourself. This philosophy shifts dance education from perfection-focused to expression-centered, creating safe spaces where students experience the joy of movement before worrying about pe...2025-07-2626 minMAHPERD "Voices From The field"Teaching For Health, Movement, and ConnectionSend us a textWhat happens when a physical education teacher prioritizes relationships over rules and student choice over standardized instruction? Nick Morse, a health and physical education teacher at Hartnett Middle School, reveals how his innovative approach is transforming how students experience physical and health education.Nick's journey begins with a pivotal childhood experience at summer camp that sparked his passion for physical activity and education. Years later, as a high school student working at that same camp, a mother's phone call thanking him for supporting her children after their father's passing solidified his c...2025-07-1546 minMAHPERD "Voices From The field"The Human Element: Building Trust Through Project AdventureSend us a textMeet Adam Joyce, a passionate Project Adventure teacher who's transforming physical education at Watertown High School. Coming from a family of educators , Adam discovered his calling after initially pursuing history education. Today, he's dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that teach students crucial life skills through experiential learning.At the heart of Adam's approach is the belief that quality physical education begins with teachers who genuinely love what they do. This authentic enthusiasm creates the foundation for student engagement. Beyond passion, he emphasizes the importance of diverse PE programs that expose students...2025-06-2821 minMAHPERD "Voices From The field"From Dance Studio to Third Grade: A Teacher's JourneySend us a textWhen passion meets purpose, learning transforms. Tiana's story begins at sixteen, teaching ballet, tap, and jazz to preschoolers and special education dance classes—experiences that kindled her love for teaching long before formal education training. Now teaching third grade in East Hartford, Connecticut, she brings this dance background directly into her classroom through strategic movement breaks that help students regulate emotions and refocus their energy throughout the day.What makes Tiana's story compelling is her commitment to creating learning environments where academic risk-taking is celebrated. "A classroom should be inclusive and lov...2025-06-2817 minMAHPERD "Voices From The field"Purposeful PE: Insights on a quality programSend us a textWhen you think of physical education, do you picture students mindlessly kicking balls around a gymnasium while a teacher blows a whistle? Dave Carney is on a mission to transform that outdated perception. With 14 years + of PE teaching experience following nine years in the classroom, Dave brings deep insight into what makes physical education truly meaningful."PE with a purpose" forms the cornerstone of Dave's philosophy. Instead of simply "rolling out the ball," he creates structured learning experiences aligned with standards and clear outcomes. Whether managing classes of 80-90 students with...2025-06-2833 minMAHPERD "Voices From The field"The Power of Connection: Meet Maria Melchionda, MAHPERDS Executive DirectorSend us a textIn this illuminating conversation with Maria Melchionda, a 40-year veteran educator and executive director of MAHPERD, we explore the difference between qualified instruction and common misconceptions in the field.Maria shares her journey from student to leader, revealing how a professor's simple invitation to join a professional organization set her on an unexpected path to leadership. With warmth and wisdom, she articulates why face-to-face professional connections remain irreplaceable in our digital era: "You cannot understand another human being without seeing social cues, without sitting down and having that eye contact or a...2025-06-2532 minMAHPERD "Voices From The field"Access for all through Innovative P.E.Send us a textWhat happens when genuine passion for movement meets resourcefulness and creativity? Bradley Land, a K-8 physical education teacher from Phoenix, Arizona, demonstrates how innovative thinking and creativity can transform physical education without breaking the bank.Bradley's journey to becoming an award-winning PE teacher took an unexpected path. Starting with a love for soccer and art, he discovered his true calling while working as a paraprofessional with special education students. His experience in adaptive PE shaped his teaching philosophy: creating accessible movement opportunities for every child regardless of ability or resources available.2025-06-2032 min