In this issue
Side Articles
Summer 2026: OAHPERD Journal
President's Message
A Message from the 2025-2026 OAHPERD President, Dee Gerlach
Dear OAHPERD Community,
Your OAHPERD Board and Council continue to work hard behind the scenes to prepare for the 2026 Convention. We are also pleased to share that the Presidential Fitness Testing and Additional Recess Time legislation was passed in late May. OAHPERD looks forward to partnering with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to support teachers and schools as they implement these new requirements.
Thank you for your dedication to our shared mission. Together, we will continue to inspire collaboration, foster growth, and promote a healthier Oklahoma as we #KeepMovingForward in 2026.
Dee Gerlach
OAHPERD President
OAHPERD News and Events
|
OAHPERD News Registration for the OAHPERD Convention is OPEN!
Come join us on October 5 and 6, 2026, on the beautiful University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) Campus for the 99th Annual OAHPERD Convention as we #KeepMovingForward2026! We have a great line-up of sessions for professionals and future professionals. Register at https://okahperd.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php Call for Presenters for the 2026 OAHPERD Convention are DUE Soon!!OAHPERD is excited to announce that the Call for Presenters for our 2026 Convention is now open! We invite educators, professionals, and experts in the fields of health, physical education, recreation, and dance to share their knowledge, innovative ideas, and best practices. Don’t miss this opportunity to inspire and collaborate with fellow professionals. Submit your proposal today! Submissions due July 2026. |
OAHPERD: Award NominationsThe Oklahoma Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance’s (OAHPERD) is looking for nominations for several of our Awards (separate from Teacher of the Year). Click here to find the criteria and descriptions on the nomination form. Nominate a deserving individual today and help us celebrate them and the work they do for our profession. #OKAHPERD |
|
OAHPERD's Lunch & Learn Join us on July 21 at 12:00 pm for a Virtual Lunch and Learn Session with Dr. Lauren Loucks, who works at the University of Central Oklahoma and serves as OAHPERD Executive Director. She will be discussing classroom management strategies. Register here to get updates regarding this Lunch and Learn. Submit questions for the Lunch & Learn We understand that not everyone is able to attend the Virtual Lunch & Learn each month. To ensure all teachers and health professionals can still benefit, we offer the opportunity to submit questions in advance for the featured subject matter expert. These questions will be addressed during the session, allowing you to watch the recording later and still receive meaningful, relevant answers on your schedule. Click on this link to submit questions to OAHPERD’s Lunch & Learn. Sessions are held virtually via Zoom, fostering statewide collaboration and accessibility. |
Interested in being an OAHPERD Sponsor or ExhibitorOAHPERD is looking for those companies and businesses that have an interest in becoming a Sponsor and/or being an Exhibitor for the 99th Annual OAHPERD Convention in October 2026. For those interested in being a Sponsor, check out the different Sponsorship Levels and benefits you can receive based on your contribution by clicking here. Please complete the form(s) below if you are and our Exhibits Manager, Katie Barton, will be getting in touch to discuss the opportunity further. Sponsor Interest Form Exhibitor Interest Form |
National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy Resources
Check out the NAHPL's Events & Resources |
|
SHAPE America Resources
|
|
|
SHAPE America'a Resources |
|
Oklahoma's Physical Education Resources
New! 2026 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Health and Physical Education
The 2026 Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS) for Health and Physical Education are a revision of the 2023 standards. The eight overarching standards for health remain the same, and Standard 1 continues to meet the requirements of the Health Education Act (A.10). For physical education, the overarching standards have been streamlined from five to four, physical literacy elements were added for elementary and secondary levels, elementary standards shifted from grade levels to grade bands, and middle school standards were organized as Level 1 and 2.
Download your copy of the standards today.
-
2026 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Physical Education
OSDE's ComPETITIVE Grants support high-quality Physical Education instruction
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is seeking sixty (60) PK-12 school sites to apply for a one-year competitive grant to support best practices in physical education instruction and address the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Physical Education.
These competitive, reimbursement grants will provide administrators and physical education teachers with professional development, mentoring and coaching, networking opportunities, and resources for high-quality physical education instruction for PK-12 students. The sites will earn funds for barrier removal supplies for up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for work outside of school contracted hours. In order to receive the full funding, personnel from the school site must complete the deliverables within the grant's timeline. The school sites will be selected through the application process and asked to participate (minimum of one teacher per site) in the following:
If you are interested in applying for the OSDE's Competitive Grant for High-Quality Physical Education Instruction, please complete this form by July 30, 2026. If you have questions, email Shana Classen at [email protected], Project Manager of Health and Physical Education. This project is funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET).-
Participate in four on-site or virtual mentoring/coaching sessions,
-
Participate in a minimum of 15 hours through OSDE's Physical Education Micro-credential addressing various topics (e.g., classroom management, instructional resources, assessment, adapted physical education),
-
Attend an in-person convention in October (one staff member per site, two 8-hour days),
-
Attend one-hour communities of practice calls with OSDE's Health and Physical Education Team or OSU-CHS Project ECHO - Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute's (HPNRI) Building Healthy School Communities twice a month,
-
Implement instructional resources in the physical education or health classrooms, and
-
Conduct one training with other physical education teachers or classroom teachers.
-
OSDE’s New OKRising Website: Free Physical Education Resources
The Oklahoma State Department of Education is excited to introduce the OKRising website for Oklahoma’s physical education teachers. OKRising, funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), is a free online hub offering open educational resources (OER) designed specifically for PreK–12 physical education in Oklahoma. Explore ready‑to-use activities, customizable lessons, and high‑quality instructional tools that have been created to support your teaching and elevate student experiences.
What makes OKRising special?
• All resources align with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Physical Education,
• Every activity reflects the principles of Meaningful Physical Education (MPE), emphasizing motor competence, challenge, social interaction, enjoyment, and personal relevance,
• Teachers have full autonomy and choice to build lessons that meet their students’ unique needs, and everything is free, accessible, and easy to use.
Visit the site today and discover fresh ways to engage students in joyful, meaningful physical activity at https://okrising.sde.ok.gov/. Let OKRising help you inspire students, strengthen instruction, and bring more purposeful movement into your classroom. This project is funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET).
Fitness Challenge Calendar
S & S Blog's June 2026 Fitness Challenge Calendar is ready for you!
Use this printable calendar as a resource to share with your students and encourage them to also participate in the challenge at home with their family. For your physical education class or classroom, you can use the Fitness Challenge indoor or outdoors as a fun way to get kids moving and active.
The Alliance For A Healthier Generation created this fitness calendar for the month of June 2026. Here is the link to the download:
Printable Fitness Challenge Calendar June 2026
Journal and/or Peer Reviewed Articles
The purpose of this research aimed to examine students’perceptionsof physical literacy (PL) through a wellness and activity class in a community college.
Read more.
Convention Sponsors
We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible sponsors for their generous support and commitment. Your contributions have been instrumental in making the convention a remarkable and successful event.
Your partnership helped in organizing a seamless and engaging experience but also demonstrated your dedication to our community. We truly appreciate your investment and belief in our vision.
Thank you for being an essential part of our organization. We look forward to continuing this valuable relationship and achieving even greater successes together in the future.
