Posted 10:20 a.m. Friday, April 24, 2015
The Society of Health and Physical Educators named Doyle the 2014 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award for the Central District.
Standing in front of a class of about 30 UW-L students, Mike Doyle, ’98 and ’09, starts his presentation as he always does.
[caption id="attachment_40629" align="alignright" width="300"]
UW-L alum recognized regionally for adapted physical education[/caption]
“Whenever I talk, I always have the first slide with a bit of my resume,” says Doyle. “I’m so proud to have UW-L as part of that. Actually, I probably spend too much time talking about my education.”
Doyle graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science-teaching with an adapted physical education emphasis. He came back to get his masters in exercise sports science-teaching with adventure education emphasis.
Doyle now teaches adapted physical education in the Wayzata School District in Minnesota. He’s seen nearly every disability since he started teaching. “Everything can be adapted for everyone to participate,” he explains. “Give kids a chance to be active. It’s not fair if they never get a chance.”
The Society of Health and Physical Educators named Doyle the 2014 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award for the Central District. He was recognized at a conference where he met and talked with other award-winning teachers.
“Seeing what someone else is offering, it sparks ideas of things that my students need to experience,” says Doyle.
He’s brought those innovative ideas back to his students. One included collaborating with a different class through Google Hangout. In another, students spent a month learning a three-minute dance routine. “There’s no way people would think that 14 cognitively delayed kids could pull that off perfectly,” he says. “You should have seen their excitement.”
Doyle shares his passion as often as he can with current and prospective teachers, including through Twitter. It’s there he can share one of his core beliefs – everyone deserves a chance.
“Having students fall behind doesn’t do them justice,” notes Doyle. “You just have to believe in them that they can succeed.”
UW-L alum recognized regionally for adapted physical education[/caption]
“Whenever I talk, I always have the first slide with a bit of my resume,” says Doyle. “I’m so proud to have UW-L as part of that. Actually, I probably spend too much time talking about my education.”
Doyle graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science-teaching with an adapted physical education emphasis. He came back to get his masters in exercise sports science-teaching with adventure education emphasis.
Doyle now teaches adapted physical education in the Wayzata School District in Minnesota. He’s seen nearly every disability since he started teaching. “Everything can be adapted for everyone to participate,” he explains. “Give kids a chance to be active. It’s not fair if they never get a chance.”
The Society of Health and Physical Educators named Doyle the 2014 Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award for the Central District. He was recognized at a conference where he met and talked with other award-winning teachers.
“Seeing what someone else is offering, it sparks ideas of things that my students need to experience,” says Doyle.
He’s brought those innovative ideas back to his students. One included collaborating with a different class through Google Hangout. In another, students spent a month learning a three-minute dance routine. “There’s no way people would think that 14 cognitively delayed kids could pull that off perfectly,” he says. “You should have seen their excitement.”
Doyle shares his passion as often as he can with current and prospective teachers, including through Twitter. It’s there he can share one of his core beliefs – everyone deserves a chance.
“Having students fall behind doesn’t do them justice,” notes Doyle. “You just have to believe in them that they can succeed.”