Teacher of the Year 

RIAHPERD Teacher of the Year Award (TOY) Expectations

Eligibility Requirements:
Health, Physical Education, Dance and Adapted Physical Educators who meet the eligibility requirements and exemplify the criteria for this award may apply or be nominated by a colleague. A “Physical Educator” is an individual whose primary teaching responsibility is physical education in one or more grades K-12, of a school or school district. A “Health Educator” is an individual whose primary teaching responsibility is health education in one or more grades K-12, of a school or school district. An “Adapted Physical Educator” is an individual whose primary teaching responsibility is working with individuals with disabilities in one or more grades K-12, of a school or school district.

Eligibility requirements include:

  1. Certification as a Physical Education, Health Teacher or Adapted PE

  2. Minimum of Three (3) years teaching experience

  3. Full-time teaching contract, current at the time of the nomination

  4. Minimum of 50% of total teaching responsibility is teaching content area for which the person is nominated

  5. Must be a member of the state organization once accepted as a nominee

Please Note: Current members of the RIAHPERD executive board, NASPE Board of Directors and the Physical OR Health Education Steering Committee; members of the NASPE teacher of the Year Awards Committee within the last three years; members of ES, MS, HS, H/PE TOY Selection Committee may not apply for the TOY award.

Levels Teachers may have responsibility for teaching grades that cross the different levels, but applications can be submitted for one level only. Teachers should apply for the level which represents 50% or more of their teaching assignment in the area for which the person is nominated.

  • Elementary Physical Education (K-5)

  • Middle School Physical Education (6-8)

  • Middle School Health Education (6-8)

  • High School Physical Education (9-12)

  • High School Health Education (9-12)

  • District Wide Dance Educator

  • District Wide – Adapted Physical Education

Awards Criteria: The applicant must be a teacher who...

  1. Conducts a quality health/physical education/adapted physical education program as reflected in the RIPES and Shape America Standards and guidelines

  2. Utilizes various teaching methodologies and plans innovative learning experiences to meet the needs of all students

  3. Serves as a positive role model epitomizing personal health and fitness, enjoyment of activity, sportsmanship, and sensitivity to the needs of students

  4. Participates in professional development opportunities

  5. Provides service to the profession through leadership.

PE Resources from SHAPE

Steps to Writing an SLO

  1. Gather Necessary Resources

    1. The first step in writing or revising an SLO is to gather the necessary resources including:

      • Indicators of a Strong SLO document Applicable content standards (including state, national, etc.)

      • Other pertinent documents including, but not limited to, historical data, identified district priorities, and/or curricular materials

  2. Connect with SLO Collaborators

    1. Meet with grade-level or content-alike colleagues to discuss ideas for SLOs. Writing collaboratively in teacher teams allows you to share your drafts with others for feedback. Taking time to consider multiple approaches and selecting precise language helps to create high-quality SLOs that foster good teaching and learning.

  3.  Identify What’s Most Important

    1. When creating an Objective Statement ask:

      a. What are the most important content or skills that my students need to know or be able to do at the end of the course?

      b. Is the scope or grain-size of my objective statement appropriate?

      c. Is the objective statement too broad? If so, it is not a targeted objective that is measurable and should not be used.

      d. Is the objective statement too narrow? If so, you may be able to teach it in a unit, but it will not be a central focus for you and your students throughout the interval of instruction.

      Consider instructional coherence and alignment to standards and district priorities.

  4. Ensure the SLO’s Anatomy Fits Together

    1. Indicators of a Strong SLO document to guide your thinking as you complete an SLO draft. Check for the following:

      a. Do all the pieces fit together and relate?

      b. Is each description in the appropriate section? It is easy to write an Objective Statement that is actually a Target or a Rationale for Target that is actually an explanation of an Evidence Source. All of the pieces should be highly connected, but it is important to clearly distinguish and explain each.