The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention in Boston, AAHE awarded former longtime resident of Sierra Vista, Michelle Henry, the National Health Teacher of the Year K-12.

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The Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review

SIERRA VISTA Each year, the American Association for Health Education recognizes health educators who enrich the depth and scope of health related activities in the classroom and who have been committed to the advancement of health promotion at the school, district, regional and national levels. On March 16 at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention in Boston, AAHE awarded former longtime resident of Sierra Vista, Michelle Henry, the National Health Teacher of the Year K-12. Henry taught health and physical education at Fort Huachuca Accommodation Schools, was a tennis instructor at Cochise College, a gymnastics and swimming instructor and a private tutor for special needschildren.

Henry received her B.A. in education at Arizona State University in 1976 and recently received her masters degree in special education at the University of Virginia. Throughout her career, teaching in public and private schools for more than 30 years, Henry has fulfilled many roles in promoting health across all age groups. As the health specialist at Liberty Middle School in Clifton, Va., she recognizes that all students are gifted and challenges each student to reach their full potential as health students and students of life. Henry conveys a tremendous passion for teaching her students about some of the more pressing issues for the middle school students such as fitness, nutrition, self-esteem, anti-bullying, peer pressure, and tobacco, drug and alcohol awareness. Henry injects a creative twist to actively involve her students in the learningprocess.

One student said, Getting stickers for answering in class, picking out of the treasure box for handing in activity logs, and Mrs. Henry using those crazy noise makers to get our attention all made health class reallyexciting.

As a health advocate at her school, Henry was the lead teacher to implement a school wide wellness program that led Liberty Middle School to winning the 2010 Fairfax County Public School G.O.L.D.E.N. Apple Wellness Award, the highest honor for a school that demonstrates excellence in wellness for both students and staff. In physical education classes, students track their cardio fitness levels with heart rate monitors and complete weekly physical activity logs. In health classes, students evaluate their daily diet, practice stress relieving exercises like deep breathing and visualization techniques and they also log sleep habits. Henry also developed and implemented a comprehensive wellness program for the faculty that includes weight loss challenges, walking and running events, relaxation treatments, nutrition consultations, weight room and aerobic excercise trainings, flu shot clinics, and screenings for osteoporosis, high blood pressure and diabetes. With the rising incidence of childhood obesity, early onset diabetes and heart disease in the U.S., as role models, teachers can send a strong message to students about living a healthier lifestyle through their own increased physical activity and more nutritious eating habits. Additionally, healthy and fit teachers are more energized in their classrooms to inspire and motivate learning across all the subject areas, saidHenry.

Along with her teaching duties, Henry also volunteers and participates in a variety of boards and committees. Henry has been the co-chair of character education, a member of the positive behavior intervention supports committee, a strong advocate for school wide anti-bullying campaigns, a sponsor of the LMS Safe and Drug Free Bookmark Contest and the chair of both the autism awareness and inclusive school committees. Henry has devoted time to afterschool programs such as the running club, exercise and nutrition club for students at risk for obesity, and also instructs babysitting classes and CPR classes for the American Heart Association. Henry was a volunteer sponsor for a warm-hearted gift giving program for LMS students to deliver toy bears to children in the hospital affected bycancer.

Henry is a member of the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and the American Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Henry is also a mentor to pre-service teachers from George Mason University who are fulfilling their health methods fieldexperience.

Henry is devoted to her students and colleagues and leaves an impression on every person she encounters. One colleague stated, students in Mrs. Henrys classes, whether middle school or college age, all leave with tremendously convincing facts and powerful impressions that will empower them to make good health and wellness decisions for themselves now and throughout theirlives.

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