Marley Elementary Sets the Pace for Physical Education

Amy Mueller's gymnasium at was full of second graders Thursday afternoon as they separated into groups and set up for a game of four square.

They put jump ropes on the floor to create four boxes that hold one student each and then bounce a ball between the squares. The game is played to help the children learn local-motor movements—in this case, how to strike a ball with their hands, Mueller said.

"Don't catch the ball, just push it into the next square," she said to her students.

It's this type of age-appropriate activity that helped Mueller's physical education program at Marley become one of seven programs in Maryland to be designated as a Physical Education Honor Roll Demonstration School. The award comes from the Maryland Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD).

The designation means that teachers from around the state can visit Marley to observe Mueller's award-winning classroom management techniques and innovative activities.

"It's such an honor," Mueller said of the recognition. "I just think that if you keep kids moving and active, they're going to stay engaged. I'm lucky in that [physical education class] lends itself to classroom management if the kids are doing a variety of fun activities."

Marley also partners with , where students with disabilities joined Mueller's students for PE classes. When Mueller's class was observed last month, the site visitation team wrote that the school’s partnership with Marley Glen should be “a model that many physical educators and special educators should emulate,” according to a press release from the school system.

"It's a blessing for all of the kids. It teaches our students even more about empathy and learning to get along with students who are different [from them]," said Marley principal Donna Williman.

“Amy Mueller and the entire Marley physical education team is to be commended for its outstanding delivery of high-quality instruction,” said Skip Lee, coordinator of health, physical education and dance for the county schools, in a press release. “Everyone from the students to the administration values the importance of daily physical activity and understands the worth of a quality physical education program.”

Williman echoed Lee's statements.

"It's a professional recognition [for Mueller] that's well deserved. She's a leader in our building and exemplifies that PE is important in students' lives ... and an involvement in exercise is important even outside of school," she said. "She will do whatever it takes to help the kids."

Mueller said Lee observed her physical education classes last year and suggested that she apply for the award from MAHPERD.

"I knew that Chesapeake High School has been a demonstration school and knew the prestige that comes with it," Mueller said. "I applied in January 2011 ... the observation day was March 21 and I was notified March 22."

Mueller said she's excited to begin to host teachers who come to observe her classes.

"I'll be ready even if they just show up," she said.