Certification and Duties of a Director of Physical Activity

Health Promotion Efforts as Predictors of Physical Activity in Schools: An Application of the Diffusion of Innovations Model

“…Professional development opportunities were offered for in‐service health and physical education teachers to serve as PALs who were charged with the implementation of a CSPAP. Each teacher participated in a 1‐day workshop and 1 academic year follow‐up of online support and resources . Baseline data of the S‐PAPA and PETPAS were completed by all professional development participants at the beginning of professional development process, and at subsequent time points throughout the follow‐up period.…”

Calling All Practitioners

“…The anticipated 2018 target is that at least 20 000 individuals will opt for this additional training as part of LMAS and become what will be known as a Physical Activity Leader (PAL), also termed Director of Physical Activity (DPA). 4,7 In their article, Castelli et al introduced the notion of providing educators with effective professional development opportunities and presented the most evidenced criteria of effective professional development. These criteria, combined with lessons learned from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education DPA certification program 4 …”

“…4,7 In their article, Castelli et al introduced the notion of providing educators with effective professional development opportunities and presented the most evidenced criteria of effective professional development. These criteria, combined with lessons learned from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education DPA certification program 4 …”

“…This team, school heath advisory council may be carry many names (ie, school wellness committee, school health team, school heath advisory council) but should be led by the school physical activity champion and include a school administrator, physical education teacher(s), and school health personnel, parents, students, and local community members with expertise in physical activity or physical activity promotion. 4,10 Thus, practitioners in the field may consider serving on these support teams, learning more about their needs and efforts, or, at the very least, participating in local LMAS activities, such as CSPAP events or PAL trainings. By doing so, practitioners could help build community awareness and collaboration for LMAS activities, provide credible support for school-based physical activity, and, if willing to offer their expertise at PAL trainings (eg, pediatrician sharing the immediate health risks of inactivity), fulfill one of the most highly supported criteria of effective professional development as noted by Castelli et al…”

“…3,4 Physical education teachers are typically the only school professional with expertise in physical activity promotion and access to the necessary resources and facilities to make physical activity programming happen. However, not all schools have a physical educator or even require physical education as part of the school curriculum, 5 and most current physical education teachers need further training to take on the role of school physical activity champion, much of which is not currently offered in physical education teacher education programs.…”