Her Story
Kathleen Engle knew she wanted to be a teacher from visits to her grandmother’s country schoolhouse, where she watched older students help younger ones learn. Her mother and grandmother were both teachers. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Black Hills State College (1980), a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Black Hills State University (1994) and later completed an educational specialist degree and administrative certification at Chadron State College.
She began teaching physical education in 1980 in small rural schools in Weston County, Wyoming, once driving 55 miles to a school and teaching grades K–2 in a doublewide trailer that also served as the lunch and laundry room. Those early years shaped her belief in innovation, team teaching and joining subjects together. Since 1985 she has taught physical education at Newcastle Middle School, where she has her students for three years in a row, every day of the week.
Her honors include the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award (1997), a Disney Teacher Awards Honoree (1995), National Board certification as a pilot candidate (2000), the Central District Teacher of the Year award from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (1995), a Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress grant (2002), the Arch Coal Golden Apple Award (2001) and an Excellence in Education Alumni Award from Black Hills State University (2000).
Beyond the Classroom
Engle has written or won grants totaling more than $355,000, including a $265,000 federal grant that built a fitness center in her district. About 65 community members use it every day, and 15 local businesses and 20 senior citizens use it too. She now consults with other schools on funding fitness equipment.
She has mentored twenty new teachers, served as clinical faculty to the Wyoming Schools/University Partnership, and given more than forty presentations on curriculum, technology, advocacy, leadership and grant writing. She has been president of her professional organizations at the state and regional levels, and she lobbied in Washington, D.C., for the Physical Education for Progress program and for the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act. She founded the Engle’s Education Scholarship for college of education students, and her students decorate the local assisted living home for Christmas.
Philosophy Into Practice
Engle’s gym is “a place where students feel successful, experience real-life situations and develop individual lifetime health and fitness habits.” Class follows a steady routine of warm-ups, conditioning and a lesson, and students set daily personal fitness goals. She uses pre- and post-assessments of fitness, skills and behavior, and heart rate monitors, pedometers, bio-impedance scales and computers let students track their own growth.
She created GeoGym, which brings core academic lessons into the gym through Geo Safari computers, and TATTOO (Time and Teacher Training Original Opportunities), which gave teachers and students time, training and laptops to build technology skills. She believes that “respecting each other leads to trust,” refuses to give up on rebellious at-risk adolescents, and tells her students she makes mistakes too. After discipline she seeks the student out to say it was “the behavior, not the person” that caused the consequence.
“Adolescents do not yet know who they are; I want to help them become who they want to be.”— Kathleen Engle
“Physical fitness, if delivered effectively, can be the single most important tool we can offer our students.”— Kathleen Engle
In Her Own Words
“I am the best thing that has happened to you today.”— Kathleen Engle, her daily greeting to students
“When the whole world walks out, I walk in.”— Kathleen Engle
“Team teaching is like a bangle bracelet; the many circles work together to create a jingle of meaningful melody.”— Kathleen Engle
“I am constantly learning from their example and wisdom.”— Kathleen Engle
“Character counts as students learn to control themselves, make good decisions, and take responsibility for their actions.”— Kathleen Engle
What Others Said
“A career built upon a daily commitment to excellence and unparalleled ability to gain students’ respect and trust. Kathleen Engle is that individual.”— Dr. Nancy Hall, nominator and Dean, College of Education, Black Hills State University
“Mrs. Engle is a master teacher.”— Scott Shoop, Principal, Newcastle Middle School
“Her genuine concern for the physical, personal, and academic welfare of her students has awarded her their trust and respect.”— Terri Lynn Cooper, parent of former students
“She is an inspiration to everyone who comes in contact with her.”— Diana L. McCormack, colleague
“Her classroom is whatever environment she and her students find themselves in.”— Lenora Sundstrom, former student
“Kathleen comes up with innovative ways to include them.”— Judi Pzinski, National Board Certified special needs educator and colleague