Teacher Who Helps Special-Needs Kids Exercise Earns State Award (GA)

November 12, 2010

A Cherokee County physical education teacher has been recognized at thestate level for her passion to help all kids g et the exercise they need.

Amy Aenchbacher, an adapted physical education teacher for the Cherokee CountySchool District, has been selected as the 2010 Adapted Physical Educator of theYear by the Georgia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation andDance.

The award recognizes adapted physical education teachers who have performedadmirably in their field.

"I’m very honored," Ms. Aenchbacher, 43, of Cobb County, said ofreceiving the award. "I believe I have the best job in the world."

Ms. Aenchbacher was nominated by David Worrall, president-elect of GAHPERD.

The recognition means she will be in contention to win the Teacher of the Yearaward at the Southern district level, which includes 13 states. If she winsthat honor, she will be in the running to receive the award at the nationallevel.

As an adapted PE teacher, Ms. Aenchbacher modifies physical education lessonplans and equipment to students with special needs.

She, along with fellow adapted PE teacher Dave Martinez, travels to six orseven schools each day and spends about 30 minutes two to three times a weekwith as many as 50 students.

Both Ms. Aenchbacher and Martinez are among the 12 adapted teachers who’ve beennationally certified by the Adapted Physical Education National StandardsCommittee.

Charlette Green, the Cherokee school district’s director of special education,has worked with Ms. Aenchbacher for three years.

Ms. Aenchbacher is "devoted to the idea that all students can successfullyparticipate in physical educati on, no matter the disability," she said.

"She is a model at adapting materials and activities so that even studentswith severe disabilities and those in wheelchairs feel included and haveathletic opportunities," Ms. Green added.

Martinez, who has worked with Ms. Aenchbacher since 1999, said she is"well-deserving" of the honor.

"She’s a tireless advocate for students with special needs," he said."She just has a compassionate heart for individual differences."

The two recently co-authored an article titled "Physical Education ForAll: A Closer Look at Direct Service," which was published in a GeorgiaCouncil of Administrators of Special Educators newsletter.

The article focused on physical education and federal sport mandates for allstudents with disabilities.

Ms. Aenchbacher taught physical education for eight years at Mountain RoadElementary School, four years at Little River Elementary School and one year inAustralia. In 2005, she began her work as an adapted physical educationteacher.

She’s also a part-time instructor at Kennesaw State University, where sheteaches health education for elementary school teachers and fitness for livingcourses.

Ms. Aenchbacher received her bachelor’s degree in health, physical educationand recreation in 1992 from Kennesaw State University and her master’s degreein health science in 1998 from the University of Alabama. She obtained her specialistin leadership and administration in 2005 from Lincoln Memorial University.

She is the chairwoman-elect for the p hysical education division of the GAHPERD.

Ms. Aenchbacher said she’s "fortunate" to work in a school districtthat values the importance of adaptive physical education.

"All students like to play… and it’s important for all children to bephysically active," she said.