By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
There’s an old Woody Allen joke that goes ‘Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. And those who can’t teach, teach gym.?
Obviously, Allen never met Oxford High School’s own Katie Goetz because if he had, he would have been forced to eat his words.
Goetz, who teaches health and physical education, recently brought home a state award for her outstanding skills as an educator. She was named Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD).
‘It’s definitely an honor,? she said. ‘It shows that people outside of my school are recognizing what I’ve done and what’s happening in the district.?
Goetz, who’s been with the district since October 2000, is on a mission to show how and why physical education and fitness is important to every single student at OHS, not just the athletes.
‘In the past two or three years, I’ve really gotten into curriculum writing, coming up with different ways to reach all of our students versus just some of the population,? she said. ‘I’m trying to get everybody to enjoy physical education and see the other side of it.
For example, in the aquatics class, a ‘team-building component? was added to usual curriculum such as learning all of the different swimming strokes.
‘It’s been fun for the kids,? she said. ‘They get to know each other a little bit better and trust each other. Being in the water adds a whole new dynamic to the activity.?
But physical education is more than just splashing around in the pool or running laps.
Thanks to the internet, physical education has moved from the gym to the home as students are able to make journal entries, read articles and take tests on-line.
Goetz said this has enabled students to meet all the new benchmarks and standards at the high school ‘without taking up too much time in the classroom.?
This is Goetz’s second year teaching at OHS. She spent the first eight years at the Crossoads for Youth school.
There she rewrote the curriculum so Crossroads students went from learning six physical activities to almost 30, ranging from traditional sports like basketball to unique ones such as hacky sack and pickleball.
‘I tried to expose them to as many different activities as we could,? said Goetz, who’s a past president of MAHPERD. ‘I wanted them to find something that they enjoyed, something they liked to do.?
Goetz went into teaching because she’s ‘always loved working with kids.?
She originally considered teaching math or language arts, areas she’s strong in, but in the end she craved something a little more physical ? pun intended.
‘I’m a hands-on learner, so being able to get involved with the kids and work with them appealed to me a lot more than just being in the classroom,? she said.
Although in some circles physical education is still stereotyped as a ‘blow-off? class, Goetz maintains it’s an important subject because it teaches students how to take care of their bodies and stay healthy for the rest of their lives.
‘A lot of times people think being physically fit is just about being able to play sports and it’s not,? she said. ‘Being physically fit is something you need to be if you want to live a longer and healthier life.?