2014 UAHPERD AWARD RECIPIENTS
Dance Educator Award: Kelby McIntyre- Martinez
Kelby draws upon years of experience as an arts educator, choreographer and director in the field of Theatre for Young Audiences. She has done extensive work with school districts, universities and non-profit organizations around the nation and in Salt Lake City, to create quality educational fine arts programs for youth that are more inclusive and representative of each community. Mrs. McIntyre-Martinez is currently the Program Director of Professional Development at the University of Utah for the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program where she works with 39 elementary schools across the Wasatch Front to provide professional development support and model best practices in the field of arts education and integration to classroom teachers and art specialists. She directs a year-round theatre and dance education program that works with youth from immigrant and refugee backgrounds at the Hartland Youth Center through University Neighborhood Partners. She is adjunct faculty in the Department of Theatre at the University of Utah and is an active board member for the Dance and the Child International’s (daCi) Utah Day of Dance and for the Spy Hop Institute for Teachers.
Coaching Award: Craig Robinette
Craig Robinette has worked for the Box Elder School District for the past 34 years. He taught elementary school for the first 10 years of his career then moved to the high school for the remainder of his teaching career. Craig has also coached the BEHS swimming team for the past 30 plus years. By working to teach swimming and water safety throughout the district, Craig has been able to identify and encourage many students to join the swim team and discover a talent they may have otherwise not. His team has won many region titles over the years and had the fun of being the spoiler team at state time and again. Many state champion individuals have benefitted from his coaching and mentoring.
Elementary Physical Education Award: Mandy King
Mandy is an extraordinary elementary educator. She has taught elementary PE in both the granite and davis school districts. She is currently also working on a PhD at the UU. I have only heard the most positive feedback about Mandy as a teacher by other teachers, kids and parents. She is well respected and delivers fun and developmentally appropriate lessons to her students.
Middle/ Junior High Physical Education Award: Jennifer Jacobsen
Jennifer Jacobsen has been an exceptional teacher throughout her 44 years in education. Her classes are fun and lively for all to learn. She follows best practices. She is willing to learn new teaching strategies and share with others. Her ways of “Getting Students Moving” is noteworthy. Students love her classes. Jennifer is energetic and has great enthusiasm. She possesses the values of honesty, integrity and trustworthiness. She sets the standards for all to follow. Jen is a hard worker and cares for all students, teachers and staff members. She has assisted numerous student teachers from BYU and UVU to succeed at the beginning of their education careers.
High School Physical Education Award: Debbie Dodds
Debbie taught physical education and coached Softball at Timpview from 2006-08. At the end of the 2008 school year, Debbie moved back to her home town of Twin Falls to be with her mother who had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Debbie took two years off of teaching and coaching to be with her mother who won her battle with cancer. Wanting to regain her teaching position at Timpview, Debbie coached softball for two years while waiting for a position to become available. When a Physical Education teaching position opened Debbie applied is now once again doing what she loves most, inspiring others and teaching students about lifelong fitness. She loves her job and cares about all of her students and athletes.
Middle/ Junior High Health Award: Chelsie Acosta
Ms. Acosta is an extraordinary professional. She has developed strong relationships with her students, colleagues, families, and administrators. Chelsie’s lesson plans are well-developed and motivational and she utilizes instructional strategies that are exemplary. Her students learn at high levels, are 100% engaged in the learning activities, and love her classes. She has been filmed during her teaching by Educational Equity to allow other educators to learn from her work in the classroom. Chelsie is diligent about her curriculum and handles the most sensitive topics with expertise and tact. Chelsie’s students are quick to ask questions that they cannot ask anywhere else and they are certain they will be treated with kindness. Chelsie Acosta is the kind of teacher that inspires kids to be the best they can be. She helps them, through her health classes, to find a path of healthy lifestyles and good decisions to result in student success and leadership.
High School Health Award: Tara Hall
Tara is recognized by her students and peers as being an outstanding teacher. She graduated from BYU and has taught Health & PE at Payson H.S. She currently is teaching at Springville H.S. and is noted as being a caring and effective teacher.
Adaptive Physical Education Award: James Zagrodnik
James is a faculty member at Weber State University. James had a disability that prevented him from talking clearly until the age of 10. His own experiences instilled a passion in him to help other children. He started the Children's Adaptive Physical Education Society! called CAPES!, for short, with the idea that all children can enhance their own personal powers and become their own superheroes. The hour-long, Tuesday night sessions are held in a gym and the pool of WSU's Swenson Gym. The children registered, are between the ages 5 through 12, and get a chance for exercise to increase their mobility and range, to socialize without harsh judgements, and to work on mental focus and other cognitive skills. Among the kids' challenges are autism, intellectual disabilities and developmental delays, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome, sensory issues and Fragile X syndrome.
Undergraduate Award: Britt Hawke
Mr. Hawke has always demonstrated a fun-loving, yet professional attitude in all that he does. He brings a non-traditional approach to his work. Serving a mission in Illinois and then serving his country in the military, Britt returned home and did construction before beginning his education at the University of Utah. He works hard in the classroom, works hard at home, and is popular with his peers. Through his vast experiences, Britt understands the importance of a solid education, both as a student and as a teacher.
Graduate Award: Amber Hall
Is currently completing her Master’s degree at BYU and has started into the PhD program at the UU. While being a student over the past several years Amber has maintained a busy schedule teaching, being involved in professional service, writing articles, etc etc. She is a former Utah HS TOY and national TOY finalist.
Higher Educator Award: Carol Wilkinson
Carol has been a faculty member at BYU since 1995 and in fact she received her MS and EdD degrees from BYU after earning her Bachelor’s degree in England. Carol as served as the PETE coordinator since 2005. She teaches courses such as teacher ethics and secondary methods. When not inspiring her students in classes, she serves as a great role model by engaging in a variety of outdoor physical activities.
Public School Administrator Award: John Robison
John Robison truly has a passion for the main reason we are in education, our students. John has brought the issue of childhood obesity and employee wellness to the forefront. Some will tell you facts, figures and talk about the need to do something. John simply rolled up his sleeves and went to work to actually make a difference. In his tenure as the secondary healthy lifestyles supervisor in Davis numerous wonderful programs have been implemented. The quality of the driver education program has increased due to John’s efforts. He’s also ensured that our coaches have undergone concussion training and have all their background checks completed and certifications are current. He instituted a random drug policy for students in grades 9-12 who are involved in extracurricular activities. John was pivotal in bringing the “Davis Moves” program to the district. This employee wellness program was started to address the rising cost of insurance for employees and for employees to be aware of their own personal risk factors. A number of employees have stated that the health screens that are part of the Davis Moves program have “saved my life.” So not only has John changed lives but he’s actually saved a few as well. John was involved in a SPARK program beginning in 2 elementary schools. Those two schools reduced direct instructional time with students by over 5,000 minutes throughout the year and their end of level assessments showed a positive gain. It was the first such program in Utah and other districts and states are inquiring about it. He’s has spoken to many groups and organizations about the need for movement among all of us. He has obtained tens of thousands of dollars in grant money and that money is directed to the appropriate area of need, our students. John has contributed greatly to his curriculum area, innovation, program development and regularly trains athletic directors, coaches and health educators everywhere. If he has any faults it’s that he’s entirely too humble. You won’t find a better person who knows what education is all about. It’s about the children, and John has worked tirelessly to impact children in a positive manner for over 40 years.