Build buy-in with administrators

A story from Colorado

“Classroom teachers always understood [the value of classroom physical activity], but always had the pressure to have students sitting, and not moving at their desks.”

Terry Jones, CEO and President
Wellness Training Specialists

It can be a challenge to help schools understand the value of classroom physical activity, due in part to the common misperception that students must sit in order to learn. We talked with Terry Jones, CEO and President of Wellness Training Specialists in Colorado, to learn more about the importance of engaging administrators to change perceptions of physical activity in the classroom.

Key Takeaways

Make the connection between movement and learning. According to Mr. Jones, a key element of success is to “help administrators understand that movement is important for learning and the brain works more [efficiently] and better when students have opportunities to move.”

Provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning through workshops for administrators only. Administrators want to learn from each other. Wellness Training Specialists conducted workshops specifically tailored to administrators and had an enthusiastic administrator help set up the workshops and recruit participants.

“Typically [administrators are reached] through word of mouth. It was an administrator who was on board and who understood the importance of [physical activity] that set up workshops for us to present to other administrators.”