8 Ways to Break Stereotypes in PE

As Physical Educators, we often encounter stereotypes that undermine the value of our profession. Some say that PE only teaches kids how to play games, that it’s just an elective for students who can’t find another class, or that it’s merely playtime or extended recess. For dedicated Physical Educators striving to create meaningful learning experiences for students, these misconceptions can present an uphill battle.

Physical Education teachers have been trying to gain credibility within the education profession as “real” teachers for a long time. A quality PE program can BUILD on key school and district initiatives such as:

• Increase academic achievement
• Decrease behavioral issues
• Boost social and emotional wellness
• Support cross-curricular skills

Let’s look at 8 ways that you can work as a team player to break existing stereotypes, gain credibility in your school, support key initiatives, and earn respect for the PE community.  

With so many educational roles within each school building—Administration, Core Teacher, Elective/Special Area Teachers, Support Staff, and beyond—knowing your role is key to being seen as a team player. As PE teachers support key district key initiatives, impact school culture, and drive student engagement, we can gain respect from our colleagues.

Using RESPECT as an acronym, let’s explore how we can break the stereotypes associated with Physical Education and increase respect for the field. Here is a RESPECT worksheet to record your thoughts and create SMART goals for each area. 

To earn respect, you have to give RESPECT:

• Rapport
• Evolve
• Strengthen
• Partner with Parents  
• Empower
• Collaborate
• Train

2. Build Rapport Across the School

Building rapport with Guidance Counselors, Secretaries, and Custodial staff is essential for a harmonious and efficient school environment. For Guidance Counselors, advocate for manageable class sizes by sharing your educational vision for your students, emphasizing how smaller classes can enhance personalized learning and student success. When interacting with Secretaries, recognize their invaluable knowledge and resourcefulness; they often know everything about the school’s operations and can assist you in obtaining almost anything you need. Lastly, acknowledge the Custodial staff’s unique perspective, as they see everything that happens in the school and can provide crucial support in maintaining a safe and clean learning environment. By fostering positive relationships with these key staff members, you create a supportive network that benefits the entire school community. 

Reflect: Who do you have a good rapport with at your school? Who would you like to develop a better rapport with? 

Create a SMART Goal to find a non-teacher to develop more rapport with during the next school year.

3. Evolve

To evolve as an educator and model being a lifelong learner, actively engage in professional development opportunities at both the school and district levels. Attend conferences at the state and national levels to stay up to date on the latest educational trends and best practices. Consider reading books that offer new insights into teaching methodologies and student engagement. Utilize online resources and social media platforms like Twitter (X), Facebook, and YouTube to connect with other educators, share ideas, and access a wealth of educational content. By continuously seeking knowledge and embracing new learning opportunities, you demonstrate a commitment to growth and inspire your students—and fellow educators—to do the same. 

Reflect: What has helped you evolve as a teacher? How would you like to “evolve” more in the future? 

Create a SMART goal to model lifelong learning that can be completed over the next year.

Developing strong relationships with Administration is crucial for a cohesive and supportive school environment. Start by building trust through reliability—be on time and consistently perform your duties. Keep them informed about potential issues before they escalate and invite them to participate in classroom activities to foster a sense of collaboration. Regular conversations are key; share updates on what you are doing in class and ask how they are doing to show genuine interest. Always seek ways to improve by discussing how you are incorporating school initiatives and asking for their perspective on various matters. This open communication and mutual respect will create a positive and productive relationship with your Administration. 

Reflect: How have you strengthened your relationship with your administration? 

Create a SMART goal to intentionally strengthen your relationship with administration.

Getting to know the parents of the students at your school is essential for fostering a supportive and engaged community. One effective way to do this is by requesting morning duty responsibilities where parents drop off their kids, allowing you to interact with them regularly. If you are on a school committee, choose one that includes parent members to build stronger connections and understand their perspectives. Volunteering for PTA events during your off-season or selling tickets to sporting events are also excellent opportunities to engage with parents, show your commitment to the school community, and strengthen these important relationships. 

Reflect: What are some other ways PE teachers can get to know the parents of their students? 

Create a SMART goal to get to know the parents of your students.

Empowering students with awesome learning experiences involves incorporating engaging, non-traditional activities and offering them choices in their learning process. Organize events like a fitness fair or a team obstacle course to make PE exciting and dynamic. These activities not only promote fitness but also teamwork and problem-solving skills. Additionally, give students a voice in their learning by allowing them to choose their warm-ups and cooldowns, select workouts and exercises that interest them, and even have a say in how they are assessed. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and motivation, making learning more personalized and enjoyable for students. 

Reflect: What are your students’ favorite activities that you teach? How do you empower your students with choice of movement? 

Create a SMART goal to empower your students with more choices in how they are active.

Collaborating with colleagues from other content areas can enhance student learning by integrating diverse skills and knowledge. For English, reinforce vocabulary terms and reading skills by incorporating learning cues and using writing prompts to assess learning objectives. For Math, involve students in measuring, timing, and graphing results from physical activities, and help them determine their maximum, vigorous, and moderate heart rates. For Science, demonstrate concepts like trajectory, force, and power through physical activities, and reinforce how the body functions. Additionally, provide your colleagues with kinesthetic strategies to support learning in their classes, making lessons more interactive and engaging for students. This interdisciplinary approach not only enriches the curriculum but also helps students see the connections between different subjects. 

Reflect: Who do you collaborate with at your school?  How have you shared kinesthetic learning strategies with colleagues? 

Create a SMART goal to collaborate with a colleague that can be completed over the next year.

Training others by sharing and presenting your expertise is a powerful way to contribute to your educational community. As a mentor, support new teachers by offering guidance to help them navigate their first years. Strengthen your Professional Learning Team (PLT) by actively participating in professional development and offering to lead team-building activities during staff meetings. Share student learning experiences in person or on social media to inspire and inform your colleagues. Respond to others’ requests for information or activities, helping to grow your Physical Education Professional Learning Network (PLN). Engage with the community using hashtags like #PhysEd and #SecPhysEd, and follow accounts such as @BodePE to stay connected and continuously learn from others in the field. 

Reflect: How have you shared what you are doing in your classes?  How would you like to share more in the future? 

Create a SMART goal for the next year that will help share more of what you are doing in Phys Ed.

As Physical Educators, we have the opportunity to reshape perceptions and demonstrate the profound impact of our profession. By building rapport, evolving as educators, and strengthening our relationships with parents and colleagues, we can empower our students and collaborate effectively across disciplines.

Let’s embrace the RESPECT framework to break stereotypes and showcase the true value of Physical Education. Together, we can create a school culture that celebrates the essential contributions of PE for students and build a great work environment for you and your colleagues. You'll see how Go Team takes on a whole new meaning!

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Written by Bill Bode, a former physical education and health teacher for 30 years, the 2016 North Carolina High School PE Teacher of the Year, the 2017 SHAPE Southern District High School PE Teacher of the Year, author of Fitness and Wellness Skills, and current G-W Health and PE Specialist. Through conference presentations and social media, Bill continues to advocate for physical educators across the country.  

Interested in applying these concepts in your PE class? Request a free preview of Fitness and Wellness Skills to get started.