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P.B. Ritch Teacher Honored as Southern District Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year

RESTON, VA, March 2, 2015 – Hiram, GA, resident Dave Senecal of P.B. Ritch Middle School in Dallas, GA, will be honored as the Southern District Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators at its 130th National Convention & Expo in Seattle, March 17 - 21. The SHAPE America Southern District represents 13 states from Virginia to Texas. The award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching performance at the middle school level and the ability to motivate today's youth to participate in a lifetime of physical activity. Senecal, a physical education teacher in the Paulding County School District for more than 17 years, will vie with five other district winners for the distinguished honor of National Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. At the convention, SHAPE America and SPARK & Sportime – innovators of equipment and evidence-based programs for physical educators – will celebrate the 26th anniversary of this Teacher of the Year awards collaboration. The National Physical Education Teacher of the Year award recipients will be announced on Friday, March 20 at the SHAPE America Hall of Fame Banquet, sponsored by Human Kinetics, an employee- owned company committed to serving the physical activity field. U.S. Olympian Dick Fosbury and Kenneth H. Cooper, the “father of aerobics,” will also be inducted into the SHAPE America Hall of Fame that evening. Senecal has worked at P.B. Ritch Middle School since 2012, which is the first year it opened. Many students at the school do not play organized sports, so Senecal introduces them to activities they can participate in after school and on weekends. One of these activities is longboarding, which is a variant of a or . After teaching himself grant writing, Senecal successfully obtained funding to purchase 28 longboards. “We have a wonderful venue for longboards at my school,” says Senecal. “We also have 60 miles of rail trail in our county and we plan to let students check out the longboards over the weekend so they can enjoy longboarding.” Senecal also received grant money to purchase mountain bikes and helmets for his school. “It amazes me how many students do not know how to ride a bike,” says Senecal. “However it is very rewarding the first time they learn and that smile is all it takes.” Introducing innovative learning experiences is one of the ways Senecal keeps his middle school students motivated. In his sixth grade classes, he teaches a circus arts unit that includes basic gymnastics skills, the art of plate spinning, spoon boarding, stilt-, riding, juggling, pantomime and dance. “As a former middle school physical education teacher, I realize the challenge of keeping students actively engaged,” says Cliff Cole, superintendent of the Paulding County School District. “Dave has masterfully accomplished this by giving students challenges and opportunities they may never experience.” In 2012, Senecal started an IRONKIDS Team, meeting before school twice a week to train with interested students. He also encourages students to run or ride in the many road , and trail events he participates in. This year, he is also working with the Paulding Education Foundation to create Extreme Family Field Day, which will include activities such as a 5K race, Fun Run and 10-event obstacle course that parents and children complete together. Senecal is a member of the Georgia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and is the physical education professional development facilitator for Paulding County. He received his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Kennesaw State University and his master’s degree in physical education from Western Kentucky University.

About SHAPE America SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators is committed to ensuring all children have the opportunity to lead healthy, physically active lives. As the nation’s largest membership organization of health and physical education professionals, SHAPE America works with its 50 state affiliates and national partners to support initiatives such as the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, Let’s Move! Active Schools and the Jump Rope For Heart/Hoops For Heart programs. Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in physical education, and our resources provide the leadership, professional development and advocacy that support health and physical educators at every level — from preschool to university graduate programs. For more information, visit www.shapeamerica.org.

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