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Earlier this year, Sumner Elementary School PE teacher Derek Picha was named the 2024 SHAPE America Central District Elementary School PE Teacher of the Year.

This honor meant that Picha was one of four finalists for the 2024 SHAPE America National Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. While he didn’t ultimately win the national teacher of the year, it is still a tremendous accomplishment.

Picha, who has worked at Sumner Elementary for several years, has worked to provide unique experiences for students including the Bike Mobile, which allows students (who might not otherwise have the opportunity) to learn how to ride a bike and hosting a Family PE Week.

His overarching goal is to empower students to lead physically active lives outside of school by helping them develop fundamental motor skills and providing exposure to as wide a variety of movement experiences as possible through physical education.

SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Educators) serves as the voice for over 200,000 health and physical education professionals across the United States. Their mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport.

To learn more about Austin Public Schools, please visit www.austin.k12.mn.us.