An Apple for Robyn Bretzing

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by Michael Lanham

The Timberwolf Times is proud to announce the winner of the 2008 PTSA Golden Apple Award. The PTSA Board met and discussed many outstanding teachers at THS and voted to give this annual award to Ms. Robyn Bretzing.

Bretzing was also recently named the 2007 UAHPERD (Utah Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance) Teacher of the Year, and Southwest District AAHPERD (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance) Teacher of the Year. The Southwest District includes Utah, California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Bretzing leaves on Tuesday, April 8 to Fort Worth, TX to represent the Southwest District, Utah, and of course Timpanogos High School as a candidate for the national AAHPERD Teacher of the Year. She will spend the week attending interviews and conventions, and on Friday, April 11, the results for national AAHPERD Teacher of the Year will be announced.

When Timpanogos High School opened 12 years ago, Ms. Bretzing left Lakeridge Junior High to come teach. She taught for three years at Lakeridge, but she loves her place here. “I love teaching at THS.,” she said. “I love the students. They are willing to engage in new and exciting developments in PE.”

And indeed, she has pioneered many of those new and exciting developments in PE-related courses. Bretzing is working on a district level to reorganize the overall high school PE experience. It seems that as students sign up for the next PE course each year, the activities that are covered remain the same. They play volleyball, they play basketball, and then they play some other classic American sports. The next year, they play volleyball, basketball, perhaps a new sport, but essentially nothing changes.

Beside subject-specific PE classes (Kickboxing, Weight Training, etc.), only the Lifetime Sports class offers a new set of activities for students. Bretzing hopes to change the curriculum of each consecutive fitness class from junior high to high school so that every year presents a new aspect of physical fitness. “I want to help kids want to be fit; good health makes you happy. You miss out on so much of life if you’re not out there enjoying it,” she said.

Ms. Bretzing played for the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team, and has been very influential in starting our own THS Women’s Soccer team. She has also played a very significant part in cultivating soccer programs in Utah Valley. She coaches Celtic Storm, a AAA women’s club team. Shelby Mckell, junior, plays for Ms. Bretzing. She said, “Robyn has been training my soccer team for a couple of years now. She works us really hard, but cares about us a ton. She’s always been fun to work with, and I have always loved her being our trainer. Thanks, Robyn, for all you’ve done. You’re the best!”

As I interviewed Ms. Bretzing, I couldn’t help but smile. She really loves what she does. She believes that PE teachers make a difference because they are the only ones who focus on the physical part of education. What good is the brain if the body can’t function? More than just teaching fun activities and sports, Bretzing coaches her students in making good physical habits that can last a lifetime. Senior Jenny Hanson said, “Ms. Bretzing is my favorite teacher because she truly cares about her students and helps them progress. She helps us be healthy.”

Congratulations, Ms. Bretzing. We at Timberwolf Times and as the student body of Timpanogos High School would like to thank you for you dedication to teaching, to your students, and to the school. We wish you the very best of luck as you travel to Fort Worth to compete to become the AAHPERD National Teacher of the Year. You are amazing!

For more information on UAHPERD and for an explanation of the TOY award, visit http://www.uahperd.org/index.html

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