Distinguished Physical Education Podcast Episodes
Welcome to the Distinguished Physical Education podcast, the show where we discuss how to create a rigorous, standards-based PE program that is safe and welcoming for all students. Are you passionate about growing as a teacher? Do you find yourself constantly reflecting on your teaching and seeking out new perspectives on physical education? Then you’re in the right place! In each episode, we will dive deep into topics such as: -Equity in PE -Strategies for ensuring that students display on-task behavior -Utilizing standards-based content and language objectives to drive instruction and student learning -Methods for effectively and efficiently assessing student progress towards objectives and tracking data -Providing academically focused and descriptive feedback and next steps to students -What rigorous instruction looks like in PE -How to differentiate for the diverse needs of students -The importance of focusing lessons on standards-based social skills -And so much more
Episodes
If you enjoy this podcast and are interested in learning more about how you or the PE teachers in your district can earn licensure renewal credits through a facilitated book study based on the book Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, please click here or email gary@distinguishedpe.com.
Second Annual Colorado Health and Physical Education Summit 2025
This is a free professional development event. The Summit supp...
The Yoga Curriculum for Physical Education - https://www.yogainphysed.com - Use the code DPE25 for 25% off!)
My guest today is Kristen Santos, a dedicated physical education teacher in Massachusetts since 1998. She started her career in Framingham and has spent the last 20 years teaching PE at Hopkinton Middle School. Kristen is also a certified yoga instructor with over 200 hour...
My guest today is Drew Burris.
Drew received a Bachelor of Science in 2009 and Master of Science in Kinesiology in 2015 at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri. With 14 years of teaching experience and 12 years of coaching under his belt, Drew has worked with students ranging from PreK to 9th grade. For the past six years, he’s been teaching PreK through 2nd grade at Ridge View Elementary.
Drew is not only d...
My guest today is Victor Spadaro.
Victor received a bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters in Leadership at SUNY Cortland. He is currently in his 7th year of teaching in Arlington Public Schools in Virginia. Victor teaches PreK-5th grade at Abingdon Elementary. Besides being an educator, Victor serves as an OPEN National Trainer and was recently named 2025 Southern District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year...
My guest today is Brad Hunter.
Brad has been working with students in a physical activity capacity for 19 years. First, with a non-profit whose mission was to bring meaningful play to schools, then 9 years as an Elementary PE teacher, and currently is in his 6th year as an Itinerant Adapted PE teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools. Brad serves on the Board of SHAPE Maryland, is the President of the Maryland Adapted PE Consorti...
Second Annual Colorado Health and Physical Education Summit 2025
This is a free professional development event. The Summit supported and developed by the Colorado Health and Physical Education Council, the council consists of health and physical education district coordinators and other partners from across the state of Colorado. This summit promises inspiration, networking opportunities, and a shared commitment to fostering heal...
Second Annual Colorado Health and Physical Education Summit 2025
This is a free professional development event. The Summit supported and developed by the Colorado Health and Physical Education Council, the council consists of health and physical education district coordinators and other partners from across the state of Colorado. This summit promises inspiration, networking opportunities, and a shared commitment to fostering heal...
My guest today is Christina Collins. Christina is the founder, owner, and franchisor of NeverStopMoving365, an organization dedicated to providing physical education beyond the school day to help combat sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity. She holds a Master’s in Sport Science from the United States Sports Academy and has over a dozen years of experience as a full-time health and physical education teacher.
In addition to he...
In this episode, get advice for how to prepare for a physical education job interview by focusing on a growth mindset and clearly communicating the various ways in which you establish a safe and welcoming culture in your gym, how you incorporate state and national standards into your lesson, including standards based social skills, and how you differentiate for the various needs of your students.
My guest today is Erin Evans. Erin is a passionate physical education teacher originally from Australia. Erin’s journey brought her to Montana, where she played soccer at Rocky Mountain College and earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Enhancement K-12. Since starting her teaching career in 2014, Erin has been dedicated to promoting health and wellness not only in her physical education classes but also throughout her community.
...Today I’m speaking with Dr. Adam Mullis, who is currently in his 10th year of teaching physical education and health at the middle school level. He is a lifetime learner, having completed his Master’s in Curricula, Assessment, and Instruction and his Ph.D. at Walden University, with his dissertation focused on policy and sex education. He has served as president of the South Carolina Association for Physical Education and Sport and...
Today I’m speaking with Sam Horton. Sam has spent seven years in education focusing on Physical Education and he is the primary PE and swimming lead at his school. Sam was recently recognized for bringing the Swim England National School Swimming Award to his school.
Sam oversees both swimming and physical education and constantly strives to implement best practice so that students have the best opportunity to succeed and develop...
Today I’m speaking with Jen Smith and Jesse Weber.
In this episode, we discuss all things assessment in physical education, including how our minds have shifted on the topic of assessment over the years, common misconceptions that teachers may have about grading and assessment, outdated grading practices, criteria that teachers should assess students on, what teachers should do with the data from assessments, how to track data e...
Today I’m speaking with Mark Lombardi. Mark received his bachelor in Kinesiology with an emphasis in K-12 education at University of Northern Colorado. He also has a Masters in curriculum and instruction. Mark has been teaching at Godsman Elementary in Denver Public Schools for 23 years. To be at the same school for over two decades feels like a rarity these days and Mark often expresses how fortunate he is that he has had the opp...
My guest today is Peter Rossi. Pete is the physical education teacher at Stedman Elementary school in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Northern Colorado and worked as a reporter for Law Week Colorado before deciding on a career change. Peter went back to the University of Northern Colorado and earned a master’s degree in physical education.
Now in his 10th y...
Gary Zaharatos reads Chapter Two (High Expectations for Student Behavior) of his book Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher.
If you enjoy this episode and are interested in learning more about how the PE teachers in your school, district, or University can get involved in a book study based on the text Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, please email gary@distinguishedpe.com.
My guest today is Jen Smith. Jen is the physical education instructional curriculum specialist at Denver public schools. She received a bachelor of science in exercise science and aquatics at ball, state university, and her teaching credential in PE at Metro state university in Denver, along with a masters in health and wellness. She taught for 12 years before moving into the specialist role where she supports PE teachers througho...
Gary Zaharatos reads Chapter One (Promoting Inclusivity and Engagement) of his book Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher.
If you haven’t already, be sure to join our Facebook group where we have assembled quite the group of experts, always willing to share their insights and help out colleagues with their problems of practice. Simply search for Distinguished Physical Education.
Gary Zaharatos speaks with Brian Hull about the difference between equality and equity, inclusive practices, and how to differentiate for the needs of all students.
Brian Hull taught secondary physical education in Title 1 schools for 10 years for Denver Public School before becoming a full-time member of the SPARK and Gopher Sport team. Brian currently works as an instructional coach at Quist Middle School in Adams County, Colo...
My new book, Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, is available on Amazon.
My guest today is Sarah Whatmore. Sarah earned a BA in child development from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She taught kindergarten and first grade for 11 years, two of those in Charlotte, North Carolina, and nine in Aurora, Colorado.
Sarah then transitioned out of the classroom and into the gym, while earning a master's in...
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