Tag Archives: Physical Education Teachers

Florida Coach Lin-J Shell prevented potential tragedy on campus

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Florida Football Coach and PE teacher Lin-J Shell became a Chalkboard Hero when he prevented a potential tragedy on his school campus. 

Many talented educators have also had successful careers as athletes. One of these is Wagner Lindsell Shell, Jr., also known as Lin-J Shell. He is a former professional football player who later taught high school physical education. But he’s probably best known for foiling an incident of potential violence at his Florida school.

Lin-J was born Oct. 22, 1981. As a young man, He played college football at Jacksonville University. Later he became a professional football player, occupying the position of defensive back. He played in both the American and the Canadian Football League from 2004 to 2015. Teams he played for include the Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans VooDoo, the Calgary Stampeders, the Toronto Argonauts, the BC Lions, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. For his athletic prowess, Lin-J was named an East All-Star for the Canadian Football League in 2010 and 2011. He also garnered a Grey Cup in 2014.

After he concluded his career as a pro-ball player, Lin-J accepted a position as a physical education teacher and Assistant Football Coach at Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida. He was promoted to interim Head Football Coach at the school just days before the start of the 2019 season, he coached the team to a 4-5 record that year.

On May 9, 2018, while Lin-J was working at Ribault High as the Assistant Football Coach, that he became a hero there. He helped to prevent a woman from using a handgun in the school gymnasium when a brawl broke out. The fight was triggered when the woman became angry about a social media post involving her nephew, who happened to be one of Lin-J’s students. The woman went to the gym with four men. “She got out of the car, she was irate, basically saying she wasn’t going to let anyone jump on her family,” recalled Lin-J. When the teacher noticed that she was holding a gun, he went straight for the firearm. “I came from behind her, I saw she had a gun, I grabbed her hand, put her hand down and hit her elbow,” he continued. Then Lin-J walked the woman backwards out of the gym, holding her arm so that the gun was pointed toward the floor. All the while, he pleaded with her, “Please don’t shoot our kids.” Once he had forced the woman outside, he shouted for help from an armed officer at the school. The officer forced the woman to drop the gun and arrested her. (To read more about the incident, see this onlline article from Bell Media.)

Sadly, this Chalkboard Hero passed away from a stroke in Florida on July 29, 2021. He was only 39 years old. He also tested positive for Covid during the pandemic.

WI Physical Ed teacher Ellen Tronnier once played in All-American Girls Baseball League

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Wisconsin physical education teacher Ellen Tronnier played as an outfielder in the All-American girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Photo Credit: AAGPBL

Many excellent teachers have also earned fame as talented athletes. One of these was Ellen Tronnier, a Wisconsin physical education teacher who once played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Those who are familiar with the 1992 movie A League of their Own starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna know very well about this unique group of women athletes.

Ellen, who played as an outfielder, was 5’6″ and 135 pounds. She batted and threw right-handed. After making it through two grueling try-outs, she earned a position in the league playing on a team called the South Bend Blue Sox. Having been born in Cudahy, Wisconsin, on June 28, 1927, she was only 15 years old at the time.

After only one season on the team, Ellen decided to pursue her education. She left the league and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. After she completed her degree there, she taught physical education in the Milwaukee Public School District. She taught at both South Division High School and Sholes Middle School. Her career as a teacher spanned a total of 33 years. During these years, which included the 1970s, Ellen opened a baseball school for girls sponsored by the Milwaukee Recreation Department.

While she was still teaching, Ellen, played club softball for 27 years, competing in numerous tournaments. She was an accomplished fast pitch softball player, and the teams she played with won several league, state, and regional championships. In 1956, her club won three National Invitational Tournaments.

When the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cooperstown, New York, an entire section of exhibits was dedicated to the All-Girls League. Ellen was recognized as one of the 560 women who had, at one time or another, played in the league. In 1990, Ellen was inducted into the Wisconsin Softball Association Hall of Fame. Even throughout her retirement, the former teacher remained active, encouraging young women to engage in competitive sports while she signed baseball cards and reminisced about the days when she payed baseball.

Sadly, Ellen Tronnier passed away on May 21, 2015, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was 87 years old. She was interred at Arlington Park Cemetery in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

 

Gussie Nell Davis of Texas: Trailblazing PE teacher and drill team coach

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Physical education teacher and drill team coach Gussie Davis from Texas has been credited with creating a “living art form.” Photo credit: Kilgore College Rangerettes

Every once in awhile I come across the story of a pioneering teacher that I feel I simply must share. One of them is Gussie Nell Davis, a physical education teacher and drill team coach from Texas who is credited for creating a “living art form.”

Gussie was born in Farmersville, Texas, on Nov. 4 1906. As a child she was trained to be a concert pianist. However, after she began her education at the College of Industrial Arts, now known as Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas, she changed her major to physical education. Later she earned a Master’s degree from the University of Southern California.

Gussie inaugurated her career as an educator at Greenville High School in Greenville, Texas, in 1928. There she worked as a physical education teacher and pep squad direction. During her tenure there, she developed the first “dancing” pep squad in 1929.

Because of her success at Greenville, Gussie was hired to develop a similar program at Kilgore College in 1939. She developed a dancing drill team known as the Kilgore College Rangerettes, and established a performance genre that has served as a model for drill teams around the nation.

During Gussie’s 40 years as Director of the Rangerettes, her team traveled all over the country and internationally, representing Texas and the United States in South America, the Far East, Europe, and elsewhere around the world. The Rangerettes have been featured at numerous football bowl games across the nation, on national television, in movies, and on hundreds of magazine covers.

For this trailblazing work, Gussie earned many honors. She was named Honorary Citizen of Fort Worth in 1965. She received the International Citizen Citizenship Award in 1969, the Cotton Bowl Association 25th Anniversary Participation Award in 1974, a State of Texas House of Representatives Certificate of Citation, and a Distinguished Alumnae of Texas Woman’s University in 1978. She was also inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1996 she was named posthumously to the TDDTEA Texas Drill Team Hall of Fame, and in 1999, she was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame. Kilgore College named the Rangerette Residence on their campus in her honor.

Gussie Nell Davis retired in 1979. She passed away Dec. 20, 1993, from respiratory complications. She was interred in Farmersville Cemetery in Texas.

To learn more about this trailblazing educator and coach, click on this link to the Kilgore College Rangerettes.

 

CA Physical Education and Dance educator Christina Hofstetter nominated for 2025-2026 LifeChanger of the Year Award

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High school Physical Education and Dance teacher Christina Hofstetter has been named one of 74 nominees for the 2025-2026 LifeChanger of the Year Award. Photo credit: National Life Group

I am always excited to share the news that a hardworking educator has earned accolades for the work they do in public school classrooms, especially one who works in my home town. Today, I get to share the news that Christina Hofstetter, a teacher in Chino Hills, California, has been named one of 74 nominees for the 2025-2026 LifeChanger of the Year Award distributed by the National Life Group.

The prestigious award recognizes educators who exemplify excellence, leadership, and positive influence  in their school community. The winner of the award will garner a $20,000 grand prize, to be shared with the school, and several smaller prizes.

Christina teaches Physical Education and Dance at Ruben S. Ayala High School in Chino Hills, her high school alma mater. She has taught at the school since 2013. In her dance courses, she empowers students to take ownership of their learning by encouraging them to choose their own dance styles, concepts, and music. One of Christina’s crowning achievements is an annual Spring Dance Concert, where her students showcase their own performances, choreography, and direction. The event is so popular that more that 250 dancers participate each year.

“I hope that I give them inspiration to continue dancing and not be afraid of dancing,” declares Christina. “I hope that they find…that when they look back at the dance program [they] think of it as a safe space, a place that they could truly be themselves,” she continues.

In addition, this amazing educator serves as the advisor for several on-campus clubs, including the Find Kind Club, which recently organized a prom for special-needs students. She also serves as the Chair of the Performing Arts Department, mentors colleagues, works on the master schedule, and co-ordinates professional development.

To learn more about Christina Hofstetter, click on this link to an article about her published on the website of the National Life Group.

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 .