PETE Program’s 2007 Student Round-Up a Great Success - October 8, 2007

The sun was shining through the leaves of the trees surrounding the Anna Hiss Gym courtyard. A stereo was playing a mix of pop folk and dance music. Tables were piled with healthy snacks and sandwiches. Students and faculty were chatting with one another around the refreshments. Many were playing volleyball; some catching up with alumni who had already graduated. Such was the pleasant scene on the afternoon of October 3rd at the PETE Program 2007 Student Round-Up, a meet-and-greet for PETE students, faculty and alumni.

Well over 50 students attended this event held for students wanting to learn about the Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program in the Kinesiology Department, and for those already pursuing a B.S. in Kinesiology with a teaching certification.

The PETE program prepares physical education teachers and coaches with an emphasis on promoting health. Their motto is “helping youth to become physically active for a lifetime” and reflects the shift to a health orientation in physical education so important in America today. Program graduates are prepared to be not just coaches but also, in Senior Lecturer Dolly Lambdin’s words, “agents of change.”

The program currently enrolls just over 100 students and can boast virtually 100% job placement for its graduates. There are jobs already waiting for new graduates and this came as no surprise after talking to the students attending the Round-Up.

Student teachers in the PETE teach at the Kindergarten -5th Grade level for half a semester then at the Secondary Level for the other half. They take their role as agents of change seriously. Anthony Ortiz is currently teaching K-5 and says he’s loving it: “There are always those kids who aren’t getting it at first, but it’s always more rewarding when you work with the kids who aren’t getting it and then you see it click.”

Melissa Fox, apprenticing at Zilker Elementary, put it this way: “The PETE program has really changed my view on teaching elementary kids. I thought I wanted to teach high school and be a volleyball or basketball coach, but I wouldn’t mind subbing at Zilker. It’s a good program; I’ve really enjoyed it and all my classes have been great.”

A group of cooperating teachers from AISD came out to support PETE and meet with new and current students. They had great things to say about the apprentice teachers. Cindy Austria, who’s been a cooperating teacher for three years with PETE, mentioned, “We learn new things from them. I don’t want to student teach any others; PETE students come so well prepared.”

Roddy Murray who’s a cooperating teacher for the first time this year says “I wish I had done it sooner.” According to Paula Brown, another cooperating teacher at AISD, “The PETE program keeps in close contact with district coordinators at AISD and they know our curriculum. Some of them [PETE faculty] were our teachers; we’ve coached with them…. Being a cooperating teacher keeps us on our toes, it keeps us looking at our curriculum closely. It refreshes you after years of teaching.”

Also present at the Student Round-Up were representatives of Youth InterACTIVE, an non-profit based in Austin, Texas. They provide after-school programs that combat youth obesity and empower youth to manage their health and to “adopt and promote ACTIVE living to their peers, families, and communities.” Angelica Reyes, Director of Operations, points out that the Kinesiology department has helped strengthen their program with quality volunteers and instructors.

They recruit heavily from the Kinesiology department and have both paid and volunteer positions for instructors and interns. This is a great opportunity for the students as well. PETE student Lindsay Ingram, an intern with Youth Interactive had this to say: “I’m learning a lot about the business end of it and about recruiting—I’m getting a lot of experience working for Youth InterACTIVE.”

To conclude the Student Round-Up, Tere Ramirez and Dolly Lambdin held a door-prize giveaway. Along with t-shirts and caps, the prizes included several generous gifts such as a $50 gas card, a $300 gift certificate from the Fitness Institute, a membership to TAHPERD (Texas Association for Health & Physical Education, Recreation & Dance) and an iPod shuffle donated by Apple Inc.

Whether in the generous spread; the dancing and volleyball; the mixing of students, alumni, faculty and cooperating teachers; or the great things everyone had to say about the program, you could see the spirit of positive social interaction and activity that embodies the program.

—Michael Arbore, College of Education, 512-475-7612

Related Links:

• Department of Kinesiology
• Physical Education Teacher Education Program
• Youth InterACTIVE
• Fitness Institute of Texas