STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
OPEN, US Games and BSN SPORTS started the State Teacher of the Year sponsorship program in 2018. Each year, we recognize the recipients of Teacher of the Year Awards from the state professional organizations of thirty partner states. The Teachers of the Year receive a commemorative banner to hang at their school, free OPEN Certified Teacher course, a $200 US Games gift certificate, and a 1/4 zip pullover noting their state and achievement. Please join us in recognizing these outstanding educators in our fields! We are #TeachersHelpingTeachers.
RODNEY DORSEY – AL
RODNEY DORSEY - AL
Rodney Dorsey is the recipient of the 2026 ASAHPERD High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Jackson-Olin High school . The favorite part of teaching for Rodney is seeing students grow in confidence and discover what they are capable of achieving. He enjoys that part of teaching because it allows him to make a positive and lasting impact on students’ lives. Seeing students gain confidence, improve their skills, and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach is incredibly rewarding to him.
SHELLEY GRIMES – AL
SHELLEY GRIMES - AL
Shelley Grimes is the recipient of the ASAHPERD Elementary PE Teacher of the Year and teaches at Brookwood Elementary School. Shelley’s favorite part of teaching elementary physical education is having the opportunity to watch students grow from kindergarten through sixth grade. She feels it is incredibly rewarding to see their skills, confidence, and love for physical activity develop over the years. Shelley especially enjoys introducing students to activities they have never experienced before. Watching students overcome challenges, find success, and realize they are capable of more than they thought possible is what makes teaching physical education so meaningful to her.
ANDREW HAMITER – AL
ANDREW HAMITER - AL
Andrew Hamiter is the recipient of the ASAHPERD Middle School Teacher of the Year and teaches at Chapman Middle School. The favorite part of teaching for Andrew is helping students understand movement and health concepts. Andrew enjoys the moment when students make a connection between the two and can apply those concepts to their own lives.
ALLISON JACKSON – AL
ALLISON JACKSON - AL
Allison Jackson is the recipient of the ASAHPERD University/College Professional of the Year and teaches at Samford University. Allison’s favorite part of teaching is working with students. Regardless of their age, her connection with each one is very important. Teaching is Allison’s passion and when she sees connections between the student and the content, it excites her. Allison enjoys seeing these connections because she gets to see students grow toward their skills and future.
LAUREN DECKER – DE
LAUREN DECKER - DE
Lauren Decker is the recipient of the SHAPE Delaware Elementary PE TOY and teaches at McVey Elementary. Lauren Decker enjoys teaching kids because it helps keep her young! She loves sharing her enthusiasm for exercise with the students and introducing them to new sports and activities that they have never tried before. Lauren gets great joy from watching her students progress as they learn new things.
LINDSEY GINEX – DE
LINDSEY GINEX - DE
Lindsey Ginex is the recipient of the 2025 SHAPE Delaware Heath Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at William Penn High School. The favorite part of teaching for Lindsey is when a student gets that lightbulb moment and all of a sudden, everything they’ve been learning makes sense. This moment is accompanied with the best smile. When a student realizes they understand something, it makes her feel like she made a difference for that student. It a feeling that has Lindsey showing up everyday for the past 22 years.
COLLEEN DEGNAN – DE
COLLEEN DEGNAN - DE
Colleen Degnan is the recipient of the SHAPE Delaware High School PE Teacher of the Year and teaches at Charter School of Wilmington. Colleen’s favorite part of teaching is connecting with her students and challenging them to push themselves in everything they do. She likes getting to see them grow in confidence, not just athletically but as people. Colleen enjoys watching students learn how to work with others, laugh, compete, and discover they’re capable of way more than they thought.
GABRIEL MONTANEZ – FL
GABRIEL MONTANEZ - FL
Gabriel Montañez is the recipient of the 2025 – 2026 SHAPE Florida Elementary PE Teacher of The Year and teaches at Forest Hill Elementary. The favorite part of teaching for Gabriel is teaching students how to fall in love with movement. Teaching students to control movement will help them apply it to everyday activities and create a generation of lifelong movers.
TUNISIA CIELO – FL
TUNISIA CIELO - FL
Tunisia Cielo is the recipient of the 2025 SHAPE Florida Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Howell L Watkins Middle School . Tunisia’s favorite part of teaching is creating engaging experiences that help all students participate, grow, and feel successful. She enjoy seeing students explore new activities and gain confidence in their abilities. Additionally, Tunisia loves to see her students thrive socially, while learning to create healthy lifestyle habits.
ADAM MULLIS – GA
ADAM MULLIS - GA
Adam Mullis is the recipient of the Georgia AHPERD Health Professional of The Year Award and teaches at Griffin Middle School. The favorite part of teaching health for Adam is helping students develop the knowledge and skills they need to make healthy decisions throughout their lives. He enjoys this aspect of teaching because health education has a direct impact on students’ daily lives and future well-being. It is rewarding for Adam to see students gain confidence, make positive choices, and recognize their ability to take charge of their own health and success.
ANNA LOBEAN – GA
ANNA LOBEAN - GA
Anna LoBean is the recipient of the Georgia AHPERD Middle School PE Teacher of the Year and teaches at Hopewell Middle School. Anna’s favorite part of teaching is helping students discover activities they enjoy and watching them gain confidence in their abilities. She loves creating positive experiences that encourage students to be active, healthy, and engaged both inside and outside of the classroom. Knowing that she can help inspire lifelong healthy habits and a positive attitude toward physical activity makes teaching meaningful every day to Anna.
RICHARD WILLIAMS – GA
RICHARD WILLIAMS - GA
Richard Williams is the recipient of the Georgia APHERD Adapted PE Teacher of the Year and teaches at Tri-Cities High School. The favorite part of teaching for Richard is watching his student-athletes utilize and execute the techniques and skills they learned in class while promoting fair play and sportsmanship. Richard enjoys this part of teaching because it shows how effective the lessons are at preparing students for post secondary activities involving healthy lifestyle choices. It also lets him know how to modify, alter, make changes to the lessons to increase student engagement and promote positive experiences.
SYDNEY MOORE – MI
SYDNEY MOORE - MI
Sydney Moore is the recipient of the 2025-26 Michigan AHPERD Middle School Physical Educator of the Year and teaches at Holt Public Schools. Sydney feels the best part about teaching physical education is building meaningful relationships with students and helping them develop lifelong health and wellness skills. Through physical activity, teamwork, and encouragement, she strives to create a positive environment where every student feels valued, confident, and motivated to make healthy choices. Sydney enjoys teaching middle school because it is rewarding to build relationships with students, help them develop confidence, and guide them as they learn skills that will benefit them both in and out of the classroom.
AMY NIXON – MI
AMY NIXON - MI
Amy Nixon is the recipient of the Michigan AHPERD High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Manistique Middle High School. Amy’s favorite part of teaching is building relationships with students and watching their growth over time. She enjoys seeing students gain confidence in physical activity, discover skills they didn’t know they had, and learn how to work together as a team. Amy enjoys that part of teaching because it gives her visible evidence that her work is making a difference.
KARA DIMARCO – PA
KARA DIMARCO - PA
Kara DiMarco is the recipient of the SHAPE PA Health Teacher of the Year and teaches at Council Rock High School South. Kara’s favorite part of teaching is making connections with her students through prioritizing positive relationships and creating a safe, supportive classroom environment. Kara believes when students feel valued and connected, they are more engaged in learning and better able to make meaningful connections between classroom content and their everyday lives..
LIZ POTASH – PA
LIZ POTASH - PA
Liz Potash is the recipient of the SHAPE PA Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Goodnoe Elementary School. The favorite part of teaching for Liz is when she teaches a concept and sees the students experience success in that area. Liz believes when students succeed, they become more confident in their movement skills and it fosters a lifelong love of movement.
DONNA FERRO – PA
DONNA FERRO - PA
Donna Ferro is the recipient of the 2025 SHAPE PA Middle School Teacher of the Year and teaches at Carl Sandburg Middle School. Donna’s favorite part of teaching is getting to engage students to be active because she gets to see the joy of kids feeling good about themselves.
MICHELLE MCGILL – PA
MICHELLE MCGILL - PA
Michelle McGill is the recipient of the SHAPE PA Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Holland Elementary and Goodnoe Elementary Schools. The favorite part of teaching adapted physical education for Michelle is its inclusive nature. She values helping students define success on their own terms and supporting them as they build confidence and develop independence. Michelle enjoys this part of teaching because it shows that all students can be successful in physical education class whatever that may look like. Seeing smiles on her students’ faces is the most rewarding part of Michelle’s job.
HALEY LUNDEN – SD
HALEY LUNDEN - SD
Haley Lunden is the recipient of the SHAPE South Dakota Elementary PE Teacher of the Year and teaches at Deubrook Elementary. Haley’s favorite part of teaching is seeing her students every day and watching them master new skills. She enjoys seeing her students work hard at different skills and how excited they are to try new things. Haley also loves seeing the joy students experience when their hard work pays off.
JACOB SKOGSTAD – SD
JACOB SKOGSTAD - SD
Jacob Skogstad is the recipient of the SHAPE SD New Professional Of The Year and teaches at Britton-Hecla School. The favorite part of teaching for Jacob is that he gets to teach k-12 physical education and health so he truly gets to see the growth that the students experience from year to year. Additonally, Jacob gets to form very meaningful connections over the years.
MERRI MARTIN – SC
MERRI MARTIN - SC
Merri Martin is the recipient of the 2025 South Carolina AHPERD Elementary Teacher of the Year and teaches at River Trail Elementary School. Merri’s favorite part of teaching is building lasting relationships with my students and their families. It is a privilege she truly cherishes. PE gives Merri a unique space to build connections, guide students through challenges, and help them discover the pure joy of movement.
JERRY HONEYCUTT – SC
JERRY HONEYCUTT - SC
Jerry Honeycutt is the recipient of the South Carolina AHPERD Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Indian Land High School. The favorite part of teaching for Jerry is serving students through his WHY of PE-Pursuing Excellence through People and Experiences with Passion and Energy.
LEVI JOHNSON – SC
LEVI JOHNSON - SC
Levi Johnson is the recipient of the 2025 South Carolina AHPERD Health Education Professional Of The Year and teaches at St. Andrews Middle School . The favorite part of teaching for Levi J Johnson is the relationships he builds and minds he inspires through Health Education. It is Levi’s personal belief that he is making a difference in the lives of students in a healthy way.
ROCHELLE DEETER – UT
ROCHELLE DEETER - UT
Rochelle Deeter is the recipient of the 2026 SHAPE Utah Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Hartvigsen School. The favorite part of teaching for her is definitely the students! Rochelle loves to see the successes of the students, no matter their ability level.
KARE GOODNESS – WI
KARE GOODNESS - WI
Kare Goodness is the recipient of the Wisconsin HPE Adapted Physical Education Teacher of The Year and teaches at Pulaski Community School District. Kare’s favorite part of teaching is seeing his students growing and learning together. Kare feels those experiences never get old and it makes everyday exciting because he never knows when one of his students is going to have a break through experience.
DUSTIN AMBORT – WI
DUSTIN AMBORT - WI
Dustin Ambort is the recipient of the Wisconsin HPE Elementary PE Teacher of the Year and teaches at Lincoln Elementary, part of the Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan School District. The favorite part of teaching for Dustin is the excitement of the students when they come into the gym because he understands that he teaches something that his students truly enjoy.
ALEX GRYCOWSKI – WI
ALEX GRYCOWSKI - WI
Alex Grycowski is the recipient of the 2026 WHPE Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year and teaches at Gifford School. Alex’s favorite part of teaching is helping students discover activities they enjoy and showing them that being active can be fun and rewarding. In turn, this helps him build relationships with students allows Alex to connect learning to their interests. Alex loves seeing students gain confidence and develop lifelong healthy habits.
KIMBERLY JAEGER – WI
KIMBERLY JAEGER - WI
Kimberly Jaeger is the recipient of the WHPE Health Teacher of the Year and teaches at South Milwaukee High School. The favorite part of teaching health education for Kimberly is that it’s practical, relevant, and meaningful. Because it’s a skills-based curriculum, students aren’t just learning information, they’re developing skills they can use for the rest of their lives. Kimberly feels it is incredibly rewarding to see her students recognize the value of healthy choices both now and in the future..