Tag Archives: Physical Education Teachers

Richard Fujiwara: PE teacher and decorated US Army veteran

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Elementary school teacher Richard Fujiwara was also a decorated US Army veteran. (Photo credit: Daily Bulletin)

Many educators who have served in America’s public schools have also served our nation in the Armed Services. One of these is Richard Fujiwara, an elementary teacher who served in the US Army during the VietNam War.

Richard was born in Upland, California, on Dec. 5, 1946. As a youngster he was raised in Chino, where he attended Chino High School. He graduated from the school in 1964. After his graduation, Richard served in VietNam, where he showed exceptional valor, earning a Purple Heart, a Green Medal, and a Bronze Star.

Once he returned to California, Richard attended Cal Poly Pomona, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and his teaching credential. Once he earned his degrees, Richard accepted a position as an elementary physical education teacher at Citrus Elementary in the Upland Unified School District. Later he taught fourth grade at Baldy View Elementary School and at Pepper Tree Elementary. His final assignment before retirement was as an itinerant Physical education teacher at the elementary level.

In his retirement, Richard volunteered countless hours at the USO and travelled, and played golf and tennis. Richard passed away on Nov. 6, 2025. He is interred at Riverside National Cemetery .

Matilda Mossman: The health and Pe teacher who became an award-winning basketball coach

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Former high school health and physical education teacher Matilda Mossman became an award-winning university basketball coach prior to her retirement in 2021. Photo credit: Tulsa University

Many outstanding college coaches launched their careers as physical education teachers in one of America’s public schools. One of these is Matilda Mossman, an award-winning high school basketball coach who also served as the former Head Basketball Coach for the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Matilda was born on Aug. 7, 1956 in Campbellsville, Kentucky. After her graduation from high school, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical education in 1970 and her Master’s degree in Education in 1980, both from Western Kentucky.located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

After earning her degrees, Matilda launched her career as a health and physical education teacher at Normal Community High School in Normal, Illinois. She also served as the girls basketball coach there. She worked at the school from 1994 to 2001.

The next year, Matilda relocated to Norman Oklahoma, where she served as the assistant girls basketball coach at Norman North High School. That year, her team completed the season with a 22-4 record and advanced to the Class 6A state semi-finals.

The next year, Matilda was named the Head Basketball Coach at Norman High. She served in that role from 2002 to 2011. During those years, her teams logged an overall record of 191-53 for a winning percentage of nearly 80%. During her tenure, Matilda’s teams qualified for the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Athletic Association (OSSAA) Class 6A State Tournament in the last eight of her nine seasons, and they won eight straight regional championships. In fact, Matilda led Norman High to the state title in 2005, and runner-up in 2010.  For her efforts, she was named the Conference Coach of the Year three times, while earning Regional and District Coach of the Year honors twice.

In 2011, Matilda was appointed Head Basketball Coach at the University of Tulsa, where she served ten seasons. She took over a five-win team and in just her second year won a conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. She retired from coaching in 2021.

“My entire life has evolved around being a basketball coach. And I have had the time of my life!” Matilda declared at the time of her retirement. “Mark Twain once said, ‘Find a job you enjoy doing and you will never work a day in your life.’ That is certainly what I have done,” she concluded.

Chalkboard Champion Jean Kirk Kuczka of Missouri protected her students with her life

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Chalkboard Champion Jean Kirk Kucska, a secondary school teacher from St. Louis, Missouri, gave her life to protect her students from a gunman. (Photo credit; MEAAW)

In the history of our country, there have been times when an educator has been so dedicated to his or her students that they may even lay down their life to protect them. One of these is Jean Kirk Kuczka, a secondary school teacher from St. Louis, Missouri.

Jean was born in St. Louis on March 7, 1961. As a high school student, she discovered a passion for education while teaching swimming lessons at a local YMCA. Once she graduated from Lindbergh High School, she enrolled at Missouri State University on a field hockey scholarship. There she earned a degree in both physical education and health. As a college student, Jean was a part of the 1979 Missouri State University National Championship Field Hockey team. In 2010, she was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Once she earned her degrees, Jean taught health and physical education courses at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School. She also coached the school’s Cross Country team. She had been working there since 2008. She loved her job, and she loved her students. In fact, she once said, “I cannot imagine myself in any other career but teaching.” Her career as an educator led to numerous awards, including a national honor recognizing her school’s accomplishments in health and wellness under her leadership.

On Oct. 24, 2022, a former student came back to the school with a gun. The intrepid teacher shielded students from the gunman, telling her kids to jump out the windows to escape. Jean gave her life protecting her students. She was buried at Resurrection Cemetery in south St. Louis.

Following her passing, this Chalkboard Champion was memorialized in the National Memorial of Fallen Educators established at the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas.

NYC PE teacher Reyes Andon garners a 2025 Golden Apple Award

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Elementary school teacher Reyes Andon has garnered a 2025 Golden Apple Award from the New York City Department of Education. Photo credit: Reyes Andon

There are many excellent teachers who work in New York City schools. One of them is Reyes Andon, a physical education teacher who has earned a Golden Apple Award from the New York City Department of Education.

Reyes teaches students up to grade 5 at PS 376, an elementary public school located in Brooklyn. There he uses sports as a vehicle to inspire learning, leadership, and community. Reyes strives to make his classroom instruction inclusive and culturally responsive. But the key to his success as an educator, says Reyes, is that he promotes peer leadership by promoting student agency and responsibility through meaningful roles the coach, assistant coach, and equipment manager.

“Beyond the classroom, I serve as a national trainer with the US Soccer Foundation, facilitating programs like Soccer for Success, the Coach-Mentor Blueprint, and Just Ball to help educators and youth leaders across the country harness sport for positive development,” says Reyes. “I also collaborate with NYCFC City in the Community, leading initiatives that engage families and expand opportunities for underserved youth,” he continued. In addition, Reyes has organized several community partnerships and after-school and weekend programs that address access gaps in physical activity and organized sports for families facing economic barriers.

Reyes is one of ten New York City teachers who garnered a Big Apple Award this year. The honor recognizes teachers who demonstrate excellence across four key areas: inspiring students to reach their full potential, modeling equitable learning with high expectations, affirming students’ unique identities and gifts, and enriching school communities through meaningful partnerships with families and community organizations. In addition to his Big Apple, which came with a $25,000 check for Reyes to use to enhance the physical education program at his school, the Chalkboard Champion was featured on an episode of the NBC Today Show.

Actor Hugh Jackman of “Wolverine” fame once worked as a PE teacher

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Hugh Jackman has earned celebrity status for playing the role of Wolverine in the popular X-Men film series. But did you know that before he became an actor, he was a physical education teacher in England?

Hugh was born in Sydney, Australia, to parents who had immigrated to the Down Under from the United Kingdom. As a youngster, he attended public schools, where he sometimes participated in amateur theatrical productions, until his graduation from high school.

At first, Hugh toyed with the idea of become a journalist, and he enrolled at Sydney’s University of Technology. It was during his gap year in 1987 that Hugh accepted a position as a physical education teacher at Uppingham School, a public school located in Uppingham, England. At the conclusion of his teaching assignment, Hugh returned to Sydney, where he completed the requirements for his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Technology in 1991. By then, Hugh had been bitten by the acting bug, so he enrolled in “The Journey” at the Actors’ Centre in Sydney, where he completed a one-year course. Next he attended the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at Edith Cowan University located in Perth. There he earned a second degree in 1994.

As it turns out, the former teacher’s decision to change careers turned out to be a good one. His most celebrated role is as Wolverine in the X-Men movies, a character he played from 2000 to 2017. He was also cast in the lead role in the romantic comedy Kate & Leopold in 2001;  the popular musical Les Miserablesin 2012; the musical The Greatest Showman in 2017, and the political drama The Front Runner in 2018. In addition, he voiced roles in the animated films Happy Feet in 2006; Rise of the Guardians in 2012; and Missing Link in 2019.

Throughout his acting career, Hugh has earned many accolades. For his role as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, he was nominated for an Academy Award and he won a Golden Globe Award, and for his role in The Greatest Showman, he earned a Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album. He has also garnered two Tony Awards.