Janice Longino, Amy Parks-Heath Elementary PE Teacher, was recently chosen to be the 2018 President of the Texas Association of Health, Physical Education and Dance (TAHPERD).
“Janice Longino is a long-time educator who continues to strive for excellence each day. She continuously brings enthusiasm and challenges herself by seeking opportunities to bring innovation into her Physical Education classroom and to our campus,” said Amy Parks-Heath Elementary Principal Megan Smith. “Her whatever-it-takes mentality is truly an inspiration.”
Longino has been a physical education teacher for almost 40 years. Her first year in Rockwall ISD was in 1995 when she helped open Amy Parks-Heath Elementary.
“This is an adventure I’ve really been looking forward to,” said Longino. “It was almost surreal when it happened. It’s been a journey.”
In 1991, Longino was named TAHPERD Texas Teacher of the Year. From there, she went on to compete against 13 other state winners before being named Southern District Teacher of the Year. Out of six national finalists, she placed second in the TAHPERD National Teacher of the Year Contest.
“I have always believed in this organization and have been committed to help make it the best state organization in the US,” said Longino in her speech to the board of TAHPERD. “Serving as an officer, a volunteer, being part of committees, being on the board, and presenting close to 100 times has allowed me to truly be a part of TAHPERD.”
As a member of the Future Directions committee, Longino helped introduce the Physical Active Leaders (PAL) Program, helping future educators become certified in the program, making them better prepared for jobs and more successful as teachers.
“Our next goal is to expand the PAL program to regional areas increasing the number of current teachers becoming PAL certified. A dream, a goal, a destiny, said Longino. “Since the beginning of the program, 5,000 educators have become PAL certified impacting almost 13 million students.”
Gabby Selden, a fourth-grade student at APHE said, “I like Ms. Longino because she is sweet and she’ll us if we’re struggling on something in gym.” Her classmate, Alex Cooley, followed up by saying, “she is nice and she helps us in every way she can.”
TAHPERD is a not-for-profit professional association of individuals in the allied fields of health education, physical education, recreation, and dance.This Texas-based association is composed of over 4,500 professional and student members serving education from kindergarten through college.
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Pictured (left to right): Alex Cooley, Janice Longino and Gabby Selden
Below is Janice Longino’s speech in its entirety to the board of TAHPERD. The last step in a long process that earned her the 2018 President position.
Good evening. First, I would like to thank the nominating committee for their support, confidence and honoring me the opportunity of running for President of TAHPERD. I would also like to say a heartfelt “Good Luck” to Barbara who has been a very dear and close friend of mine for over 30 years.
So, let’s chat. I am again running for the office of Presidency. In preparing for my speech, I was thinking of a theme that I would share with you about who I am. The first thought that came to mind was the movie “27 Dresses”. A movie about a young lady that had been a bridesmaid 27 times before she became the bride.
With that said, a few facts about me. I have been a member of TAHPERD for almost 40 years. I began as the student representative from North Texas State University. I was then chair of the elementary Physical Education Section. I have served as Vice-President of the Physical Education Division, Vice-President of the General Division, and have served on almost every committee in our organization.
I have also had the honor, just as Barbara has, to be TAHPERD Teacher of the Year and Southern District Teacher of the Year. AND, I now hold the prestigious record for the number of times of running for President of TAHPERD. Trust me when I say, that it has not been 27 times, but only 4.
Why do I share that with you? It is part of my journey. When serving as Student rep, I dreamed of one day serving as President of this organization. “Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be.” Perseverance, faith, and timing can also be factors for dreams coming true. When you have dreams, they become goals. When you set goals, such as being President of TAHPERD, they become part of your destiny.
Destiny is about timing. And, I believe the time is now!
I have always believed in this organization and have been committed to help make it the best state organization in the US. Serving as an officer, a volunteer, being part of committees, being on the board, and presenting close to 100 times has allowed me to truly be a part of TAHPERD.
So, how can I help continue to make a great organization even greater? We have an amazing state office staff, great leaders, and awesome committed members. We continue to support and educate our students, our teachers, our professors, and our staff.
We stay on the cutting edge! We have been introduced and deeply educated about the LINK project. And we continue to educate superintendents and district coordinators all over our state. More and more districts are adopting the program which increases the minutes of unstructured play for kids to 60 minutes a day. This does not take the place of PE classes. The program also provides students with a daily 15-minute character lesson. All of this done without extending the day.
A dream, a goal, a destiny!
A request from a member of this organization, became a directive from a former President, and as a member of the Future Directions committee, we have introduced the PAL, Physical Active Leaders, program. Professors of universities are presenting the PAL program to their students allowing our future educators to become certified in the program, making them better prepared for jobs, and more successful as teachers.
I am certified in the PAL program and have been instrumental leading numerous presentations at convention and sharing the PAL program to numerous school districts. Or next goal, expand the PAL program to regional areas increasing the number of current teachers becoming PAL certified. A dream, a goal, a destiny.
I have had the honor to present with two of our esteemed national “Let’s Move” committee members Rose Haggarty and Mario Reyna. Since the beginning of the program, only 4 years ago, 5000 educators have become PAL certified impacting almost 13 million students.
And schools all over the state of Texas are being recognized as “Let’s Move” schools.
A dream, a goal, a destiny!
TAHPERD continues to work hand in hand with Jump Rope for Heart communicating goals, building relationships, and remaining the Number 1 state in the country raising money for research.
We continue to work with TEA, state senators, and state representatives in mandating health and DAILY Physical Education for our students, to reduce the number of students in our classes, and to require certified, specialized teachers in our classrooms.
These best practices are what our students deserve!
We can’t rest! We must continue to persevere, stay faithful to who and what we are as an organization, stay committed to our profession, and continue to focus on our destiny. I believe I have persevered. I believe I am faithful to our association. I believe that I am, just as all of you are, committed to TAHPERD. I believe in my dreams. I believe in my goals. I am trusting you will join with me in creating new dreams, setting new goals, and blazing new trails for our profession!
Thank you so much for your time tonight.
