Campus Connection

UWL receives  grant to continue adapted physical education teacher preparation

UW-La Crosse has received a $1.25 million competitive grant to continue its nationally recognized work preparing adapted physical education teachers for schools across the country. The U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services grant provides fellowships and professional development for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing teaching and leadership careers in adapted physical education. UWL Professor Garth Tymeson, grant director, says the project will fund full-time graduate and undergraduate students, as well as current teachers returning to UWL for adapted physical education professional development during the summer. Abbie Lee, a lecturer in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science and coordinator of the new award, says the project continues the work of another grant that ends in June. “The grant will assist many future teachers to achieve state licensure in adapted physical education and assist school districts throughout the country who need effective teachers to serve students with disabilities in both inclusive and specialized education settings,” she says. The five-year award is one of the largest grants UWL has received. Students experience adapted physical education and sport programs sponsored by UWL’s Center on Disability Health and Adapted Physical Activity in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. [caption id="attachment_45914" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Students in UW-La Crosse’s nationally recognized adapted physical education program work with children from the community as part of their studies. The $1.25 million U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services grant provides fellowships and professional development for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing teaching and leadership careers in adapted physical education.[/caption] About the UWL adapted physical education teacher preparation program UWL adapted physical education alumni are hired throughout the country. In the last eight years, they have received teaching positions in Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. As many as 12 graduates in the past six years have been employed in Virginia’s Fairfax County, the 13^th largest school district in the country. Wisconsin is one of only 13 states with an add-on teaching license for adapted physical education specialists. School districts actively pursue UWL adapted physical education teachers to meet their staff needs. Some alumni pursue doctorates to teach in higher education. Graduate students in the program come from throughout the country. Adapted physical education is one of many highly regarded teacher education programs in the UWL School of Education that prepares future professionals to meet the needs of students with disabilities in PK-12 schools. UWL offers both undergraduate and graduate study in adapted physical education. Current enrollment includes about 40 undergraduates and 10 graduate students.