Hi, I have been at Oak Ridge since 1993. There have been many changes over the years to our little PE Department. When I started the students only had 3 days of PE, the 2nd PE teacher was part-time and health was taught by the classroom teacher. Now we have expanded to PE everyday, there are two full-time teachers and we teach Health. It is exciting for me to be a part of all these positive changes. In only a few years of having these positive changes in place I have seen progress in the students activity levels and their attitude about their health. As I get closer to my retirement I know when I leave the children will continue to improve and learn about their health and fitness.
I have always enjoyed watching a child grow in confidence through physical activity and have them realize they can achieve more than they ever thought. I believe that Physical Education class is one of the best mediums to help with a child’s confidence, integrity and courage for lifetime lessons learned. I believe that when a child has the knowledge about the benefits of healthy choices and activity they will make better decisions throughout their life.
I enjoy most outdoor activities such as hiking, gardening, bicycling and just being outdoors. I love the Chicago Cubs and hope someday they can pull off that miracle season. I have 6 nephews, 5 nieces, 2 great nephews and 2 great nieces. They keep me busy and always make me smile.
Mr. Towner
I graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a major in Kinesiology and Sports Studies and a Health minor. I did my student teaching at Villa Grove High School and Westview Elementary School in Champaign, IL. This is my third year teaching at Oak Ridge and I am very excited to be a part of this wonderful district.
I enjoy being outside, listening to music, and being active. I was on the Cross Country and Track teams at EIU so I love to run in my free time. I have a dog named Allie that also likes to go out for runs with me. In May 2010, I ran my first marathon in 3 hours and 32 minutes.
I am a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Philosophy statement: It is my goal, as a physical education teacher, to help students enjoy physical activity so that they will continue to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle. I believe that students need to be exposed to a multitude of activities so that they can find the ones that they excel in and enjoy the most. I believe it is important for students to learn how to work as an individual and as a teammate, so that they can become successful in the world, specifically the workplace, when they become older. It is also my goal to be a role model and motivator for all of my students. Students need to be given room to express their creativity, but also have rules to abide by as well. Overall, physical education is a subject that provides students with a safe, healthy environment and helps them lead a physically active and well-rounded life.