SUBMITTED TO CONNECT-BRIDGEPORT

The hard work and countless hours spent fostering a successful learning environment at Bridgeport High School is something worth noting. So noteworthy in fact that long-time Health and Drivers’ Education Teacher, Mrs. Melissa Kaiser, was nominated and awarded the Health Educator of the Year Award from the West Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (WVAHPERD) at their 2018 convention at the Charleston Town Center Marriott on October 18-19.

               

Thrilled to see that her friend and co-worker is a recipient of such a prestigious award for educators, Health and Drivers’ Education Teacher, Mrs. Emilee Yurish announced the news to the Faculty Senate Meeting last Tuesday, September 25, “There are a lot of reasons, she is one of those teachers that would never expect to get recognized for all the work she does but one-hundred-percent deserves it. I do not know that I just felt so compelled to announce this to the whole faculty because of how much respect I have for her or how grateful I am for how much I have learned from her, but getting this recognition is something she absolutely deserves. I cannot even tell you how much I have learned from her in both my subjects and in teaching. She’s constantly teaching, and I am so thankful to share a classroom with her,” said Yurish.

 

The organization rewarding her is very diverse and represents teachers in many of the aforementioned fields from an elementary to a collegiate level, “I have only been the one time, while Mrs. Kaiser has gone for several years, but it such a big organization covering a variety of subjects, offering countless amounts of resources for all teachers, but especially in the areas of Health, Physical Education, and Dance. These resources are anything from new strategies to new technology, websites, or apps many of which I have implemented into my own curriculum. It is such a great conference that always books great speakers and is very coordinated. I recommend attending to anyone because it has something for anyone looking for a healthy lifestyle,” said Yurish.

               

One could only imagine how it would feel to be gifted such distinguished recognition, “Earlier this school year, I received an email that I had been nominated and was asked to fill out an application. I was so honored throughout the whole process. Everyone who was nominated was invited to an awards dinner set up by the whole WVAPHERD conference, and I could not help but be humbled to be in the presence of such distinguished individuals who were there celebrating me and people like me. The biggest reason this had such a profound impact on me was because WVAPHERD made me the teacher I am. Especially earlier on in my teaching experience, the countless strategies and resources they had to offer truly helped me to be a better teacher and see teaching in a different light,” said Kaiser

               

Bridgeport High School has been a big part of Kaiser’s life and she has put many hours in making sure students are knowledgeable about crucial issues, “I pursued my Master's degree in School Health with the main goal to someday teach health at the high school level.  I enjoyed my years as a PE teacher but I have a passion for being able to educate our youth in the classroom about decisions that they make on a day to day bases and how those decisions can affect every area of health, (not just nutrition and exercise) and their quality of life for many years to come.  I also love teaching a subject that I never have hear students say "I will never use this in life".  Every single student that passes through my classroom can use what I teach them on a day to day bases for the rest of their lives no matter where their path takes them.  This might be the only chance in their life to hear some of the knowledge that they need so I take every opportunity to give them what I can in the short amount of time that I have them.  I tell them often that I never want them to have to say "I just wish I would have known,” said Kaiser

               

It is important to acknowledge the anonymous individual who nominated Kaiser, “It was a true honor not only to be nominated by an individual in this area of the state but even more humbling to be chosen and recognized by an amazing state wide organization such as WVAHPERD.  The professionals that are the backbone of this organization work tirelessly to advocate for the importance of quality Health, PE and Dance programs in WV schools.  The yearly conference that they hold every fall is a professional development opportunity for higher education students and current teachers to get ideas and a new level of excitement for their classrooms that will give children the skills for life-long ability to make healthy choices,” said Kaiser.

               

These students of hers have many kind words for their teacher, “I think Mrs. Kaiser is a very good teacher. She is very organized in her classroom, always making every moment count, and takes advantage of every minute of her class time. I feel like I am getting a lot of great life experience taking her class,” said BHS sophomore Easton Cahill. 

               

Everyone deserves a pat on the back sometimes, especially individuals who have committed their life to making sure difficult, important issues, are discussed and clarified. It takes a very special person to do that, and Bridgeport High School has that in Mrs. Kaiser.

 

Editor’s Note:Vincent Pinti is a student in Mr. Brad Bonnenberger’s journalism class. These stories are submitted to, and not assigned by, Connect-Bridgeport for publication.