(Interview by Stefanie Brady, pelinks4u Editorial Assistant)

Heidi Stan is the Wellness Department Chair at Riverside Junior High School in Fishers, Indiana and has been with the district for over 7 years. Last year, the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) named Heidi its 2014 National Health Teacher of the Year.

Stan loves to teach. But her favorite part is finding new ways to teach creatively using a hands-on approach. Kids love being actively engaged in their learning and it excites me to watch them grow and learn. What especially motivates Stan is the way in which her knowledge about health and physical education is constantly expanding. “I love being able to educate students on things that will matter in their lives, 5, 10, 30, or even 50 years from now.”