For all things Distinguished Physical Education:

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My guests today are Tyler Quinn and Jessica Templeton.

Tyler has been teaching elementary physical education for seven years. After starting his career in Arlington Public Schools, he moved to Colorado in 2020, where he now teaches PreK–5th grade PE at Columbine Elementary in Denver Public Schools.

Jessica brings 24 years of experience in Denver Public Schools. She spent 16 years as a third-grade classroom teacher before transitioning into PE. She currently teaches at Gust Elementary and also serves as a Regional Team Specialist, supporting PE teachers across the district through professional learning.

In this episode, we discuss:

How to create a safe and welcoming gym environment from day one

Gym setup strategies that reinforce expectations for student behavior

Planning for entry and exit routines and other essential procedures

Activities to build classroom culture during the first week

Key advice for new teachers heading into the school year

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this conversation is full of actionable ideas to help kick off the school year with confidence and clarity.

My new book, Becoming a Distinguished Physical Education Teacher, is available on Amazon.

If you haven’t already, be sure to join our Facebook group where we have assembled quite the group of experts, always willing to share their insights and help out colleagues with their problems of practice. Simply search for Distinguished Physical Education.