The Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (CTAHPERD) has named Virginia King, physical education teacher at Valley Regional High School (VRHS), the CTAHPERD High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

A graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University with a B.S. in physical education with a health minor, King continued her education at the University of Connecticut with a M.S. in sport management and leisure studies. She has 24 years of teaching experience at VRHS and, in addition to her teaching duties, is the Regional School District #4 Health and Physical Education Department coordinator for grades 7 to 12.

According to CTAHPERD, King has deep content knowledge, a fine repertoire of pedagogical skills, and contagious enthusiasm for teaching and learning. She has spearheaded a transformation in curriculum and course offerings that has created a more personalized approach for high school students.

The primary focus of the curriculum is lifelong fitness through lessons that embrace standards in an atmosphere that is fun, engaging, and supportive, according to CTAHPERD. PE Fit is an elective course characterized by goal setting by students, exposure to a variety of fitness activities, guest instructors, and field trips to local fitness centers. A Recreation and Leisure unit was developed to include lifelong leisure activities that promote 21st-century learning skills to help the students better meet academic, social, and civic expectations within physical education. Students are encouraged to participate in and then teach these activities to friends and family outside of school hours to promote a better sense of community. Seniors may take a an additional physical education course as a physical education assistant/student leader. These students assist with such teaching duties as taking attendance, setting up and distributing equipment, officiating, disseminating handouts and reading materials, running round robin tournaments, and working one on one with students that need help with game skills or weight room techniques. This modern curriculum has fostered a transformation in student attitude.

Since becoming a certified Zumba Fitness and Zumba toning instructor, King introduced the group exercise program into the Wednesday Cardio Workout Sessions for every block of the day at VRHS. Students are engaged through her presentation skills, sense of humor and abundant energy, according to CTAHPERD. King has expanded the Zumba instruction into a cross curricular unit with the Spanish class and held Zumba sessions during halftime at home football games.

King has contributed to the school community in many ways: she was a BEST Portfolio scorer, assistant girls’ basketball coach, head volleyball coach, and athletic director; is a TEAM mentor teacher, cooperating teacher, intramural spring sports director, intramural weight room director, member of NEASC sub-committee; and Team Handball Tournament director for VRHS Heart of a PE Warrior Scholarship. Her service to the greater community includes free Zumba session for Camp Hazen’s YMCA Women’s Wellness Weekend Retreat, guest lecturer at CCSU, charity Zumba session Chester Fire Hose Company for a VRHS scholarship fundraiser, Zumbathon for Chester Elementary School PTO, Zumbathon for breast cancer at Ifoundfitness, and community projects with the Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau.

King will receive her award at its annual Fall Awards Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell.