Staff Celebrations
State group names Broadview-Thomson’s Shelly Ellis Middle School P.E. Teacher of Year
The Washington Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (WAHPERD) has named Broadview-Thomson K-8 teacher Shelly Ellis its 2012 Middle School Teacher of the Year.
The award recognizes P.E. teachers “who have shown exemplary leadership in developing and administering programs of exceptional quality.” Those selected serve as a professional role model, use best practices to create a positive learning environment, and are involved in professional organizations and participate in ongoing professional development.
Lori Dunn, SPS physical education and health literacy program manager, said that Ellis serves as a role model for others by emphasizing personal health and fitness, enjoyment of physical activities and sportsmanship. “Shelly shares with her students her love of maintaining lifelong fitness and her own trials and tribulations regarding fitness and how it made an amazing change in her life,” Dunn added.
In addition to belonging to WAHPERD and its national counterpart – the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance – Ellis is a member of the Office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s Health and Fitness Cadre, a group of professionals who develop new assessments and best practices in the area of health and fitness. She also sits on the board of “PE Central”, an online Physical Education and Health website, and is an SPS “Trainer of Trainers” for the Federal Physical Education for Progress Grant.
Ellis – who has been working in Seattle Public Schools for two years – began her teaching career 19 years ago, and has taught all grade levels from kindergarten through high school.