Tag Archives: Physical Education Teachers

Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.: Gifted teacher, coach, veteran, businessman, and politician

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Stuart Hunt

Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.: Gifted teacher, coach, military veteran, businessman, and politician.

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who have a made a name for themselves in arenas outside of education. This is true of Stuart W. Hunt, Sr.,a  high school teacher and coach who also served as a legislator for his home state of Vermont.

Stuart Hunt was born in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont, on April 28, 1927. As a young man, he attended Brattleboro High School, where he excelled in sports. When he graduated in 1945, he was honored with the Stolte Memorial Cup, given to the best all-around athlete.

Because World War II was in full swing in 1945, immediately after his graduation, Stuart enlisted in the military. Throughout the war, he served in the US Army Air Forces.

When the war ended, Stuart earned his Bachelor’s degree from Arnold College, now known as the University of Bridgeport, located in Connecticut. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1952. Once he earned his degree, Stuart settled in Guilford, Vermont, and accepted a position as a physical education teacher at his alma mater, Brattleboro High School. He also coached football and basketball there. In addition to coaching, Stuart was instrumental in starting the Auto Mechanics Training Program at the Vocational Center at the high school, and he was one of the founders of the Brattleboro Little League Post 5 program.

In addition to his classroom and coaching responsibilities, Stuart worked in the real estate and insurance fields. Also, he was very active in town and state government, serving as a selectman, a trustee of the Guilford Fire Department, a trustee of the Guilford Fair Association, a Justice of the Peace, and a Member of the Board of Civil Authority. As if all this were not enough, Stuart was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. He also served in the Vermont State Senate.

This gifted teacher, coach, military veteran, businessman, and politician passed away of natural causes in Vernon, Vermont, on December 9, 2014. He was 87 years old.

New Jersey PE teacher and baseball coach Frank Eufemia is a former MLB player

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Frank Eufemia

Physical education teacher and baseball coach, and former MLB baseball player Frank Eufemia

Major League Baseball is celebrating the opening of another season, so it’s fitting and proper to share the story of a hardworking teacher and coach who used to be a professional baseball player: Frank Eufemia.

Frank was born in December 3, 1959, in the Bronx, New York, and was raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey. As a member of his high school baseball team, the All-County senior was recruited as an outfielder, but before long he was shifted to the position of pitcher. In 1982, his final season, he was named a 1st team Division III All-American.

In 1985, the 5’11”, 185 pound player was drafted as a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins during. He played 39 games, finishing the season with a record of four wins, two losses, an earned run average of 3.79, and 30 strike-outs.

This chalkboard athlete currently teaches physical education and health and coaches baseball at Pascack Hills High School, a public institution located in Montvale, Bergen County, New Jersey.

Teacher Lori Aldaheff becomes advocate for school safety after her daughter is slain

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Lori Alhadeff

Health and physical education teacher and coach Lori Alhadeff  became a tireless advocate for school safety after her daughter, Alyssa, was slain in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

There are many examples of fine educators who have devoted their energies to activist pursuits. One of these is Lori Alhadeff, a health and physical education teacher whose daughter was slain in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. In the wake of this tragedy, Lori has become an activist and outspoken advocate for  gun control.

Lori Robinovitz was born on February 11, 1975, in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from the College of New Jersey, a public university in Ewing, New Jersey. She completed her Master’s degree in Education at Gratz College, a private Jewish university located in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania..

Once she earned her degrees, Lori taught for four years in New Jersey’s Union Township School District. There she also coached volleyball, softball, and cheerleading. She also worked for one year for the Windward School where she taught children with dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities and coached cheerleading. After she married Dr. Ilan Alhadeff and had three children, Lori became a stay-at-home mother and devoted many years to coaching soccer.

Tragically, Lori’s 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa Alhadeff, was one of 17 students and teachers killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on February 14, 2018. The next day, Lori appeared on CNN where she made an impassioned plea to President Donald Trump to increase school security. But Lori was not content to merely talk. She founded a nonprofit organization she named Make Our Schools Safe with the goal of providing safety strategies designed to meet the specific needs of each school. These strategies include installing metal detectors, bullet-resistant glass, and additional fencing and gates. The month after her daughter was killed, Lori traveled to Tallahassee to work towards the passage of Florida Senate Bill 7026, legislation which provided some statewide gun control and school safety measures. She also participated in the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, DC.

In August, 2018, Lori was elected to the Broward County School Board, which serves the sixth-largest district in the country. When the votes were counted, she had earned a whopping 65% of them.

Lori Alhadeff: a true Chalkboard Champion.

Patricia Haddad: Former teacher and current Representative in the Massachusetts State House

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Patricia Haddad

Former middle school teacher and current Representative in the Massachusetts State House Patricia Haddad

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who are also accomplished politicians. One of these is Patricia Haddad, a teacher from Somerset , Massachusetts who also serves in the Massachusett State House of Representatives.

Patricia was born on May 7, 1950, in Fall River Massachusetts. She attended Mount Saint Mary Academy, where she graduated in 1968. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State College in 1972. In 2010, Patricia garnered an honorary Ph.D. in Public Administration from Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Patricia served 14 years as a middle school health and fitness teacher in Somerset, Massachusetts. She was also a member of the Somerset Recreation and Playground Commission, the Somerset School Committee, and the Somerset Democratic Town Committee.

In 2001, Patricia was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve the 5th Bristol District, located on the south coast of the state. Since her election, she has served as the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education (20-04-2008), and the House Assistant Majority Whip (2008-2010). Currently, Patricia serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore of Massachusetts House.

For her dedication and hard work, Patricia has earned many accolades. She has earned the Women of Achievement Award from the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant; the Legislator of the Year Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees; the Teacher-Leader Award from the Reading Recovery Council of Massachusetts; the Massachusetts Bio-Ed Award from the Massachusetts Bio-Education Association; and the Public Service Award from the Massachusetts Association of Chapter 766 Approved Schools.

Way to go, Patricia!

Todd Gerhart: Head football coach, physical education teacher, and former NFL player

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Todd Gerhart

Todd Gerhart, football coach and physical education teacher

There are many examples of talented athletes who have distinguished themselves as coaches and teachers after they have concluded their careers in sports. One of these is former NFL football player Todd Gerhart, who became a football coach and physical education teacher in Norco, California.

Todd, who was born on December 8, 1962, attended Norco High School in Norco, California. At 5’11” and 235 pounds, he made a great choice as a running back. Following his high school graduation, Todd enrolled at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). He played football for the Titans from 1981 to 1984. Once he graduated from CSUF, Todd was drafted by the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (USFL). He also played in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Minnesota Vikings and did a very brief stint with the Houston Oilers.

When he retired from professional football, Todd returned to his alma mater when he accepted a position as a physical education teacher and Head Football Coach at Norco High School. During his tenure, which lasted nine years from 2004 to 2012, the Cougars posted a combined record of 85-28. Two times in three years, the Norco team advanced to the CIF championship, and they won the title in 2005 and 2006. Currently, Todd teaches physical education at Auburndale Junior High School in Corona, California.

To read more about this amazing educator, read the article at CNS Sports entitled Gerhart Juggles Fatherhood, Coaching and Heisman Hoopla.