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10/22/2003
Contact: K.E. Schwab --
724-738-2199; e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu
SRU PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROFESSOR NAMED TO
STATEWIDE HONOR AS TEACHER OF YEAR
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University recognized her
outstanding teaching abilities in 2000 and now the Pennsylvania
State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance has reached the same conclusion, naming SRU’s Dr. Betsy
A. McKinley, “University Teacher of the
Year.”
McKinley,
a 23-year K-12 health and physical education public school veteran
and a nine-year SRU faculty member, will receive the statewide
award at the association’s state convention in Lancaster on
Nov. 21.
An
associate professor of physical education and sport management in
SRU’s College of Education, McKinley is immediate past
president of PSAHPERD, having served a year as president-elect and
as president. Under her presidential leadership in 2002, the
organization focused on the theme “Imagine the Possibilities:
Take New Direction,” including legislative advocacy toward
enhancing physical education, health and wellness programs across
the commonwealth. The focus included workshops on effective
lobbying as members emphasized the importance of retaining physical
education classes in the secondary school
curriculum.
“I
am truly honored to have been named recipient of this year’s
award, and I thank those who supported my nomination,”
McKinley said in learning of her selection. Dr. Jay Hertzog, dean
of SRU’s College of Education was among those supporting her
selection, pointing out, “Dr. McKinley has been a driving
force in the Physical Education/Teacher Education program with her
initiative to develop and implement “Teaching Centers”
in several area schools. These centers are cutting-edge ventures in
which our students are provided supervision and guidance in honing
their teaching under the eye of an outstanding practicing physical
education educator…I can think of no one who better emulates
the established standards for this prestigious
award.”
Another
supporter, Dr. Rhonda R. Ridinger at Southwest Missouri State
University, added, “I have worked with many fine teachers,
but assuredly, none with the passion for teaching, the unmitigated
drive and the abilities of Dr. Betsy McKinley. Teaching physical
education is her forte; sharing her expertise is her
gift.”
As
recipient of SRU’s President’s Award for Excellence in
Teaching as part of the 2000 Academic Honors Convocation, she was
nominated for her continued commitment and obvious passion to
teaching. Students praise her classroom style, which models a
variety of teaching styles, including role playing and practical
experiences. She also models assessment techniques students
can employ as they become successful educators.
McKinley
says her recent year as president of PSAHPERD allowed her to
continue lobbying legislators, school boards, school
administrators, parents and even students on the importance of
physical education and healthy lifestyles as part of the standard
school education program. “We know that as budgets tighten,
physical education and health classes are among the first things
considered for cuts, yet, we also know they are among the most
important academic subjects that can have a critical and lifelong
impact on learners of all ages.”
In
addition to her work at SRU and with PSAHPERD, McKinley has been
involved with the Pennsylvania Governor’s Institute for
Health, Safety and Physical Education and has served as a
consultant to the five-year, $1 million, Missouri Goals 2000
project. She is the educational consultant for the United States
Lifesaving Manual, writing lessons plans to accompany its
“Open Water Lifesaving Manual.” She also supervises
student teachers in SRU’s teacher education program in
Dublin, Ireland.
McKinley
earned her doctorate at Temple University, her master’s
degree at SRU and her undergraduate degree at Lock Haven
University.
PN, WPN, PgN, WPR, S
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EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo is available at:
www.sru.edu/pages/5427.asp
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