Tag Archives: Physical Education Teachers

Isabelle Salmon Ross: Settler and Pioneer for PE

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Isabelle Salmon Ross: Settler and pioneer for physical education for women and special education students. Photo credit: BYU Library

Many wonderful teachers were also pioneers in their time. Such is the case of Isabelle Salmon Ross, who was not only a settler in the Utah Territory in the 1800s, but was also a pioneer of physical education courses for women and special education students during her lifetime.

Isabelle Salmon was born on November 1, 1867, in Perry, Utah Territory. Her parents, William Weir Salmon and Margaret Hay Hunter Salmon, had immigrated from Scotland. Isabelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education at the University of Utah. She also attended Harvard University. After college, she became a physical education teacher in the public school system in Salt Lake City, at Brigham Young College, and at the Utah State School for the Deaf and the Blind in Ogden, Utah.

Isabelle was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served her church in the general presidency of the Primary organization. While working in that capacity, Isabelle met and fell in love with fellow Mormon Charles James Ross. On September 29, 1897, the pair married in the Salt Lake Temple. Her husband was from Ogden and was a member of the general board of the Deseret Sunday School Union. He also served for a time as the manager of Ogden Tabernacle Choir.

In her later life, Isabelle suffered from coronary heart disease. Sadly, she passed away on December 28, 1947, in Salt Lake City. She was 80 years old. She is interred at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Coronavirus claims life of NYC PE teacher David Behrbom

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Coronavirus claims the life of New York City Physical Education teacher David Behrbom. He was 47 years old.

With great sadness we report the loss of yet another beloved educator to the coronavirus. David Behrbom, a physical education teacher at New York City’s PS 55, passed away on April 5, 2020. He was only 47 years old.

David’s career at PS 55 spanned 15 years. The school is located in the Bronx area of the New York City. In addition to physical education, David taught math and health education. David is remembered by everyone for the annual  Spring event he organized. The event was an Olympic Field Day, which brought together students and staff for a fun day of friendly athletic competition.

As a youngster, David was recognized as a talented athlete, particularly on the baseball diamond.

Outside of the classroom, David also coached Little League baseball and soccer in his home town of Ardsley in Westchester County. He enjoyed old-school hip-hop and was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees.

“As an educator, Behrbom was an amazing individual,” remarked PS 55 Principal Luis Torres. David’s co-workers shared the sentiment.  “I will always remember David as a great teacher and colleague,” expressed retired teacher Maria Arroyo. Fellow educator Nalda Munroe agreed. “David was a pleasant, friendly, and encouraging teacher and co-worker,” she recalled. “His presence in my classroom will never be forgotten….the way he interacted with the students…He will surely be missed,” she said.

In March, David was diagnosed with leukemia and began undergoing chemotherapy. Shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with COVID-19, and was awaiting the go-ahead to use an experimental treatment that involved platelets when passed away at White Plains Hospital Center in White Plains, New York.

You can read more about David Behrbom at this link to his memorial at the  United Federation of Teachers.

Minnesota’s Nicole Peterson earns SHAPE America Teacher of the Year Award

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Minnesota dance and physical education teacher Nicole Peterson of West Fargo, North Dakota, has earned a 2019 SHAPE America Teacher of the Year Award.

One of the most amazing physical education teachers I have heard about is Nicole Peterson, a dance and physical education teacher from West Fargo, North Dakota. She was named a SHAPE America National Teacher of the Year in 2019. Award honorees are selected in response to their outstanding programs in adapted physical education, dance education, health education, and physical education.

Nicole received a crystal apple, flowers, a gift from her West Fargo Public School District and the local school board, and a $500 check from the West Fargo Educational Foundation. “I just want to give back to the community what I got out of this [city] and high school,” Nicole expressed. “I really like who I work with, my co-workers and the administration are all great. The culture of the school here is amazing and challenging all at the same time,” she concluded. In addition to her SHAPE Award, Nicole was named the 2018-2019 West Fargo Public Schools Teacher of the Year

Nicole teaches dance and physical education at West Fargo High School in West Fargo. In fact, she teaches at her alma mater. She graduated from West Fargo High in 1996. The honored educator has held that position for the past 16 years. Prior to West Fargo, she taught health and physical education in Henning, Minnesota.

Nicole earned her Bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Health and Physical Education from Moorhead, Minnesota, in 2000. She earned her Master’s degree from North Dakota in Curriculum and Instruction in 2013.

To read more about Nicole, see this article published in the West Fargo Pioneer.

West Virginia PE teacher Jennifer Butler, succumbs to Covid-19

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Physical Education teacher Jennifer Butler of West Virginia passed away from Covid-19 on April 14, 2020.

Sadly, Covid-19 has claimed the life of another dedicated educator. Jennifer Butler, a physical education teacher from West Virginia, passed away from the disease on April 14, 2020. She was only 57 years old.

Jennifer was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia, to Jennings Lee Ashton, Jr., and Amelia Ashton. As a young girl, Jennifer attended Martinsburg High School, where she graduated in 1981. After high school, Jennifer earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Shepherd University. Shepherd is a public university located in Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Once she obtained her degree, Jennifer taught at several elementary schools in her home state. At the time of her passing, she was teaching at Hedgesville Elementary School in Hedgesville, West Virginia.

“Jenny Butler has been an unshakable presence in the education of our children,” remembered the school’s Principal Melissa D. Hollen.  “Her quiet kindness and creative lessons always made student health and well-being the centerpiece of her teaching.”

Hollen revealed that one of Jennifer’s special projects had been the completion of the school’s walking track. “For many years, Mrs. Butler had wanted the walking track to be paved so that students and community members could have another place to develop good health practices and enjoy life’s quiet moments,” Hollen said.

In addition to Covid-19, Jennifer was diagnosed with cancer earlier in the school year.  “Throughout her battle, Mrs. Butler continued to teach, and her deep care of the children and their well being never faltered,” remarked Hollen. “The job of a loving teacher doesn’t stop, and Mrs. Butler took the time to help answer students’ questions,” Hollen continued. “She was a tremendous person; warm, loving, and graceful. She was modest beyond compare and deeply devoted to her family, our staff and our students,” Hollen concluded.

To read more about Jennifer Butler, read this obituary printed in the Herald Mail Media.

Coronavirus claims life of retired PE teacher Myrtle Pollard of NYC

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Sadly, the coronavirus claims the life of New York City retired physical eduction teacher Myrtle Pollard.

The educational community is saddened by the passing of yet another educator who has been lost to the coronavirus. Myrtle Pollard, a retired teacher from New York City, succumbed to the disease on March 28, 2020. She was 80 years old.

Myrtle taught the majority of her career at PS 181 in Flatbush, Brooklyn.  She taught health education and physical education. She also instructed courses in Adult Basic Education in the Bronx. She retired 17 years ago,

Myrtle earned her Bachelor’s degree at Claflin University, a historically Black university located in Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. She earned her Master’s degree at City College of New York. Myrtle was an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority for 60 years.

Myrtle was one of many educators in her family. Her late husband, her sisters, and her daughter also entered the profession, and all devoted careers to the New York City Department of Education..

To read more about Myrtle, see this link at New York State United Teachers.