In this issue

Spring 2026: OAHPERD Journal Print

President's Message

A Message from the 2025-2026 OAHPERD President, Dee Gerlach

Dear OAHPERD Community,

Your OAHPERD Board and Council have been hard at work implementing the new strategic plan and preparing for the 2026 convention. Meanwhile, fitness, physical education, and physical activity have been key topics during this legislative session. OAHPERD stands ready to support teachers and schools in implementing any new physical education and physical activity requirements that may be introduced. Thank you for your dedication to our shared mission; together, we will continue to inspire collaboration, growth, and a healthier Oklahoma as we KeepMovingForward#2026.

Dee Gerlach, OAHPERD President

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OAHPERD News and Events

OAHPERD News

OAHPERD's Board and Council are working diligently on the 2026 Convention! Now, we need your help to celebrate the amazing work going on in Oklahoma. In the below section, please nominate colleagues for the OAHPERD Awards or choose to present a session or two at convention to highlight your expertise. 

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 June 2026.

OAHPERD: Award Nominations

The 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 April 28 at 12:00 pm for a Virtual Lunch and Learn Session with Rachael Hernandez, who works at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She will be discussing stress, burnout, and self-care strategies beyond a bubble bath. 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 Exhibitor

OAHPERD 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

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National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy Resources

Check out the NAHPL's Events & Resources
NAHPL's is promoting the Pushing Boundaries Webinar Series which will be highlighting professionals who are doing incredible work that challenge the status quo, that encourage us to think outside of our comfort zones and that enlighten us with expertise and perspectives that can only enhance our ability to empathize with others who have different lived experiences! 
 
Title Session: The Power of Belonging: Catalysts for Change
 
Session Description: Join Asian Girls Ignite, an organization empowering AANHPI youth through the power of storytelling and connection, for an inspiring session on driving personal and collective change. Together, we’ll explore how spaces create powerful opportunities for identity exploration, self-awareness, self-efficacy, and resilience.
Participants will learn how these groups go beyond personal growth to strengthen entire communities—building networks of support and aligning around shared visions for change. Guided by the insights and lived experiences of Asian Girls Ignite, this workshop will offer fresh perspectives on both the unique strengths and real challenges. Attendees will walk away with practical tools for launching, sustaining, and deepening these spaces in their own schools, organizations, or communities. Come be part of a powerful conversation about belonging and to ignite change and empower youth to feel seen and valued.
 
Session Date and Time:  Wednesday, April 30th @ 12:00pm-1:30pm
 
Registration Details: REGISTER HERE or at PLAY Education's Website (CLICK HERE)

Visit the Website for more Open Access Resources.

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SHAPE America Resources

SHAPE America'a Resources 

is scheduled for May 1-7. Have you made plans to celebrate in your school?

 This week is a great time to advocate for your program by inviting parents, caregivers, and school administrators to join one of your physical education classes. They’ll see the standards-based skills your students are learning and experience first-hand how physical education has changed from what they might remember.

 National PE & Sport Week landing page includes links to several helpful resources, including:

  • Sample Save the Date Flyer;
  • Spirit Week Activity Calendars for grades K-5 and 6-12;
  • Inclusive PE Resources;
  • New Professional Learning Options … and more!

Click here to check out the free resources.

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Oklahoma's Physical Education Resources

OSDE's New Competitive Grant for Rural Schools

      The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is offering a six-month ROOTS grant (May–October 2026) for 60 rural PK–12 schools to enhance physical education, fitness, and wellness initiatives aligned with state standards. Selected sites will receive professional development, mentoring, and up to $10,000 for approved equipment, with funding contingent on completing required activities such as trainings, coaching sessions, and collaborative learning opportunities. Click here to see a list of all eligible communities.
       If you are interested in applying for the OSDE's ROOTS grant, please complete this form at https://forms.gle/khHHC6wX2jhxTmc46 by Monday, May 25, 2026. If you have questions, email Shana Classen, Project Manager of Health and Physical Education.

      This grant is supported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health's (OSDH) Rural Health Transformation Program, funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award, RHTCMS332048, totaling $223,476,948.62 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

 OSDE's Elementary Ed Chats

Sessions

4:00 PM Registration: https://bit.ly/472BSpB

7:00 PM Registration: https://bit.ly/4lUjzYw

  • When: The first Tuesday of each month at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

  • Where: Via Zoom

Upcoming Sessions:

May 5, 2026: Avoiding the Summer Slump with Family Engagement

Past Sessions:

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Fitness Challenge Calendar

S & S Blog's May 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 May 2026. Here is the link to the download:

Printable Fitness Challenge Calendar May 2026

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Journal and/or Peer Reviewed Articles

Exploring the school climate, teacher stressors, burnout, perceived health and wellbeing of K-12 teachers in Oklahoma
The purpose of this article was to identify areas in the school climate that could be addressed to reduce burnout, a cross sectional study was conducted in 2019 and 2024 exploring the domains of school climate that affect teacher burnout, perceived health and wellbeing.
 Read more.
The purpose of this study is to examine outdoor recreation participation patterns, motivations, and perceptions of community recreation resources among Oklahoma residents. 
Comparing Personality Traits and Undergraduate Student Enrollment Choices in Adventure-Based Courses VS. Non-Adventure-Based Courses 
This study examined the relationship between personality traits and undergraduate students’ enrollment in adventure-based (a-b) versus non-adventure-based (n-a) courses at a Midwestern university. Read more.

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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.

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