Distinguished Physical Education Podcast Episodes

#5 - Best Practice in Pre-K Physical Education with Sara Whatmore

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 physical education from the University of Northern Colorado. She currently teaches P. E. at Stephen Knight Center for Early Education in Denver Public Schools, which allows her to combine her experience of working with children ages 3 to 6 and physical education.
Sarah is also a physical education regional team specialist, which allows her to create and facilitate professional development around PE and primary grades for other teachers in Denver.  I have attended several of Sarah's PD sessions and always walk away having learned something new about teaching physical education to our youngest students.
 
Find DPE merch, including t-shirts and hoodies here. 
 
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. 

#4 - Back to School Strategies for Elementary PE Teachers with Tyler Quinn and Jessica Templeton

My new book, Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, is available on Amazon.
 
My guests today are Tyler Quinn and Jessica Templeton. 
 
Tyler received a bachelor of science in Kinesiology with a physical education emphasis at Shenandoah University in Virginia. He has been teaching elementary physical education for 7 years, the first 3 in Arlington Public schools before moving to Colorado in 2020 where he taught in Jefferson County for 3 years. Tyler currently teaches pre-K through 5th grade PE at Columbine Elementary in Denver Public Schools. 
 
Jessica has taught for 24 years in Denver Public Schools. She started her career as a third grade teacher and was in the classroom for 16 years before pivoting to teaching Pre-k through 5th grade physical education at Gust Elementary School. She has mentored numerous teachers over the years and currently serves as a Regional Team Specialist, planning and delivering professional development for PE teachers across the district.
 
In this episode we discuss topics such as creating a safe and welcoming learning environment, strategies for setting up the gym to support high expectations for student behavior, class rules, activities for the first week of school, gym entry and exit procedures, planning for the first day of school, advice for new teachers … and other topics.
 
Find DPE merch, including t-shirts and hoodies here. 
 
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. 

#3 - Back to School Strategies for Secondary PE Teachers with Brian Crane

Secure your spot for the 2025-2026 DPE Virtual Book Study, facilitated by Gary Zaharatos and Jen Smith. Buy tickets here! Feel free to email gary@distinguishedpe.com for group discounts or any questions. 
 
My guest today is Brian Crane. Brian received a bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at San Diego State University and his teaching credential in PE at Arizona State University. He has been teaching for 20 years, including a couple of years with me as his teaching partner, for better or worse :) In the Kyrene School District in Tempe, Arizona, Brian taught ECE through 5th grade for five years before moving on to teach middle school at Kyrene Middle School for four years. Since 2014, he has been teaching high school PE in the Mesa School District at East Valley Academy.
 
I learned a lot from Brian over the years that we worked together and it’s a pleasure to be able to speak with him. We cover topics such as communicating clear expectations for student behavior, class rules, the importance of developing mutually respectful relationships with students, reducing students anxiety in physical education, preparing for the first week of school, cell phones, the benefits of small-sided modified activities, motivating students to participate, end of class routines, and other topics. 
 
Find DPE merch, including t-shirts and hoodies here. 
 
Want to be a guest on the podcast? Click here to connect!
 
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 fill out this form or email gary@distinguishedpe.com.
My new book, Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, is available on Amazon.

#2 - Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher - Introduction

Gary Zaharatos reads the Introduction to his new book Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher. 
 
Find DPE merch, including t-shirts and hoodies here. 
 
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. 
 
This podcast is being released along with my new book, Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, which is available on both Amazon and my website, www.distinguishedpe.com.

#1 - Promo Episode

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. I'm your host, Gary Zaharatos, and I'm thrilled to give you a sneak peek into what we have in store for you.
 
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. 
 
Find DPE merch, including t-shirts and hoodies here. 
 
This podcast is being released along with my new book, Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, which is available on both Amazon and my website, www.distinguishedpe.com.