Kim (Sebesta) McCool of Scripps Middle School was surprised to learn she had recently been named “Physical Education Teacher of the Year” by the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD).
“Because I’m so young,” she explained. “It was an honor.”
McCool, 31, lives in Oxford with her husband Steve and has been at Scripps since 1997. It was her first job after graduating from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s of science degree in education with an emphasis on physical education and a minor in math.
McCool also earned a master’s degree in exercise science from Wayne State University in 2003. She currently serves as the Lake Orion Physical Education District Chairperson, and a State of Michigan Middle School PE Leadership Committee member.
“I’ve always liked being active,” said the Washington Township native, who graduated from Rochester Adams High School. “I always wanted to be active in my job, and lead a healthy lifestyle.”
McCool’s father had a heart attack when she was in high school, and it proved to be a life-changing experience for her.
“I originally thought of going into nursing, but I wanted to be able to impact people (on leading a healthy lifestyle) at a young age,” she explained.
McCool takes pride in turning her students at Scripps on to being active in all aspects of their life, not just in class.
“I love seeing a student who hated to move smile and have a good time,” she said. “They’re happy when they leave.
“My personal philosophy is to have students stay active and be positive with each other and work with each other…and moving for a lifetime. That’s my goal,” said McCool.
“At Scripps Middle School, physical education is much more than playing games or sports,” said Scripps Principal Ken Gutman. “Ms. Sebesta-McCool, through her physical education class, encourages her students to practice good, healthy living in both school and at home.
“Her extra effort in making the traditional ‘gym’ class more meaningful and lasting is evident in her being awarded the MAHPERD Teacher of the Year,” Gutman said. “We are very proud of her and thankful that we have her at Scripps.”
McCool tries to give her students the tools they will need to be able to keep their bodies healthy for the course of their lives. She said after her class, the kids don’t need personal trainers.
“I teach them everything they need to know,” she said. “In eighth grade, they have to come up with their own plan.”
Since she joined the Scripps staff, McCool has petitioned the Scripps Parent Teacher Organization for heart rate monitors and now has 20 of them to use in teaching students how to take their pulse and blood pressure.
“I can tell the students or I can show them how the heart is affected by exercise,” she said. “The monitors give a hands-on approach that interests the students, and hopefully helps them remember important information about their hearts and exercise.”
McCool traveled to Traverse City to the MAHPERD Fall Conference to receive her PE Teacher of the Year honor. In 1995, she was named the MAHPERD Outstanding Student in Physical Education, and in 1998 the Scripps Outstanding Educator.
MAHPERD is a professional organization for all physical education teachers in Michigan.