“Over the years it’s been a real passion of mine to find opportunities for my kids to get active and engaged,” says Andrew Martin, physical education teacher at Grahamwood Elementary School. Martin just began his sixth year at Grahamwood and works with about 550 students each week. “I try to [make available] as many different opportunities as I can because each person is unique,” he says.
The school’s running club, in its third year, will host around 200 members. “Last year, we had about 150 that were there almost every week.” For the club, Martin helped form a partnership with Christian Brothers University and its head track and field coach to get the elementary and college students together throughout the year. “We do some joint practices and running,” says Martin. “Our kids think it’s the greatest thing in the world that they get to practice with college kids.”
But everyone doesn’t get excited about running, so Martin has broadened the spectrum. New this year: a roller skating team. Last year, he started cross country and parkour teams. For the latter, Martin networked with Memphis Parkour, who sent coaches out to Grahamwood to work directly with the students.
Martin also integrates academics into his physical fitness lessons, and last year, he and his students participated in the NFL Fuel Up to Play program. The initiative not only gets kids active outside of school, but also incorporates nutrition and health-related coursework, with corresponding assignments throughout the week.
“[The students] accumulated enough hours and were invited to Atlanta over the summer, so they got to see some NFL players, and meet the commissioner for all their hard work,” Martin says.
Originally a nursing major, Martin’s wife, Lauren, helped him see his true life path. “I was prepping for the entrance exam, and she just could tell that I wasn’t myself,” he says. “She opened my eyes to the passions I had for exercise and fitness, and working with kids.” Martin had previously supervised a church youth group and enjoyed being a mentor. “Whenever I was able to reflect on what was important, I definitely consider that to be something that shaped the path I’m on now.”
Martin and Lauren have a 4-year-old son Hayden, and another son, Luke, on the way. He hopes to instill the same values — of proper nutrition and fitness — in his own children, as he does at Grahamwood. “I take a lot of pride in knowing that I’m helping these kids realize how important it is to be physically active,” he says.
And Martin’s adapting to the changing times, as well. “I’ve been researching ways that we can take technology and incorporate it into physical education to where the kids are active. And it will also show them they can do these things outside of school — things they can do on their phone, tablet, or computer,” he says.
“The end goal for me is to develop lifelong lovers of physical activity.”