#46 - Building a Student-Driven Fitness Program | Derek Thomas

For more information on the Distinguished PE K-5 Curriculum, click here!

 

Come see us this June at the Colorado Health and PE Council Summit. Register here for free!

 

Derek Thomas is a national board certified PE teacher at Cheyenne High School in North Las Vegas and the 2024 Shape Nevada and 2025 Shape America Western District High School teacher of the year. His teaching philosophy centers on movement with purpose.  Whether teaching, coaching, or mentoring colleagues, Derek's mission is to make PE a space where every student feels empowered, challenged, and proud of who they're becoming, both in and out of the gym.

 

Follow Derek on X (@coachDThomas84) or IG (@lovethegame1984)

 

Distinguished PE has officially launched new self-paced courses! You can take them for graduate credits, for hours toward renewing your teaching license, or simply for your own professional growth and reflection.

Each course aligns with a chapter from Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher and provides opportunities for authentic, job-embedded learning:

 

The following three credit, self-paced courses are now available:

DPE 101: Promoting Inclusivity and Engagement

DPE 102: High Expectations for Student Behavior

DPE 103: Optimizing Use of Space and Resources

DPE 104: Standards-Based Content and Language Objectives

DPE 105: Assessing Students’ Progress and Understanding

DPE 106: Prioritizing Standards-Based Social Skills

 

You can earn three graduate-level credits for each course (18 total if you complete all five) through Colorado State University Pueblo, which can help teachers move over on their pay scale in many districts. These credits can also be used toward a Masters Degree at CSU!

If you’re looking for renewal hours, each one offers up to 100 hours toward your teaching license.

To learn more or get registered, email gary@distinguishedpe.com or head over to www.distinguishedpe.com and click on Virtual Courses.

Click here for the direct link to sign-up: Register Here!

 

Podcast and Distinguished Physical Education Logos created by Alex Stone.