Physical education and health teacher Catherine Moffitt helps students stay in shape physically—and mentally—at Hope Valley Elementary School in Hope Valley. She develops and facilitates school- and community-based activities such as an annual field day; a morning walking program for students, parents, and faculty; and health seminars for parents and the community. In addition, Ms. Moffitt has her students build their writing skills by maintaining a journal about the importance of health and fitness. She has successfully integrated technology into her rigorous, standards-based curriculum, using it to plan and manage her instruction and requiring students to manage their own records, rubrics and skills on computer-based programs. Ms. Moffitt is chair of the School Improvement Team, a member of the district's Health and Physical Education Curriculum Committee, and president of the Rhode Island Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. During the Olympics, she has students track the various events and athletes, including their statistics. Ms. Moffitt's own statistics indicate she's a gold-medal teacher.
