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| Team New Jersey |
Jersey Department of Education’s (NJDOE) Coordinated School Health team partnered with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD) to conduct 9 Fitnessgram workshops. Events were held throughout New Jersey and supported the Coordinated School Health Demonstration Project at NJDOE, Health Service Grants at NJDHSS and NFL Play 60 Fitnessgram grantees as well as other interested teachers. One district sent a representative to a Fitnessgram training later purchased the program for the entire district. That district’s staff was able to attend subsequent workshops in order to implement Fitnessgram successfully.
As interest in Fitnessgram grew, the CSH team and NJAHPERD knew they had to do something to address the training needs of teachers in NJ. They decided to ask Kathy Read, Human Kinetics Fitnessgram Director, to train a cadre of 24 experienced Fitnessgram users to become Fitnessgram trainers. The session took place in January 2011 and was invitation only. Trainers were selected based on their experience using Fitnessgram, their ability to “turnkey” the information effectively and their availability to schools in need of Fitnessgram training. Trainers were also asked to contribute to a Frequently Asked Questions Document and provide support to schools via email for a period of 18 months following the Train the Trainer session. To date the new cadre of trainers have conducted three Fitnessgram workshops and are scheduled to conduct several more in the 2011-2012 school year.
Christene DeWitt-Parker
christene.dewitt-parker@doe.state.nj.us
http://www.nj.gov/education/students/safety/health/csh
