Crab Orchard Elementary Physical Education Teacher Misty Goss earned Tennessee Middle School PE Teacher of the Year honors after 27 years of helping students build healthy habits.
The Tennessee Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance selected Goss for the statewide recognition. Goss said she approaches physical education as preparation for a healthy life beyond the gym.
“Maybe it’s just because it’s more than just playing games and teaching sports,” Goss said. “I want every kid that comes through the gym to feel included and successful regardless of their ability. And I want them to know that healthy habits don’t just stop at the gym door, that it’s a lifelong commitment to themselves.”
Goss said physical education requires significantly more planning today as teachers compete with screen time and sedentary habits. She constantly looks for new games, competitions and other ways to make exercise engaging.
“The time that goes into planning is tremendous,” Goss said. “Because you have got to find ways to keep the kids engaged for the full time they’re here.”
Goss said the needs students bring into the gym have changed as well. Goss said mental health and social-emotional concerns now play a larger role in her lessons than when she began teaching.
“When I started 27 years ago there wasn’t so much mental health issues, you know, and social emotional issues that there is now,” Goss said. “So in my games that I do in class I lots of times I try to involve social emotional um stuff in those.”
Goss also works with the Cumberland Prevention Coalition, Cumberland County Health Department and Avalon Center. Those community partners provide lessons beginning as early as pre-K on topics including healthy eating, personal safety, vaping and other health decisions.
Goss said the impact of physical education does not always come through a major athletic achievement. She recently watched an eighth grader reach third base during a kickball game before telling her he had never made it to a base during his years at the school.
“His face just lit up,” Goss said. “So just watching those kids that’s had trouble you know getting past a stumbling block of something and they finally do.”
Those moments continue to motivate Goss after nearly three decades in education. Goss said building relationships with students remains at the center of her work.
“The kids, the kids. That’s it,” Goss said. “They’re they’re just they’re just so funny. They um, but you got to respect them. You got to respect the kids before they can show you respect.”
Goss said she ultimately wants every student to leave physical education with confidence, healthy habits and skills that extend beyond the gym.
“I just want to have every child, you know, have success,” Goss said. “I want every student to be able to participate in PE regardless of their ability because every child has the right to to have that.”