Hypercompetitive physical education classes in school are a thing of the past, and the teachers who are revolutionizing the way students stay active are getting renewed recognition.

Sarah Savala is one of these innovators on the job. She is a physical education and dance teacher at Marshall Academy for the Arts who was recently named Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the California Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD).

“I feel so humbled and blessed,” said Savala, who has been teaching for 22 years. “I think (teaching) was probably something I was destined to do from the beginning.”

Savala is originally from San Diego where she taught and coached soccer until moving to Baldwin Park. She became an instructor with the Long Beach Unified School District in 2015 at Jefferson Middle School. A year later, she started teaching physical education and dance at Marshall Academy for the Arts.

“I know I’m always growing and learning (on the job) hence always attending professional developments and being a part of every organization I can possibly be a part of the physical education world,” Savala said.

Savala has already earned her National Board Certification, which is the highest professional distinction in teaching.

“My overall approach is to surround myself with people that are always pushing me to strive for better,” Savala said. “The whole profession is growing and changing. Back in the days, it was either calisthenics and fitness, or it was sports. Now it’s really all about developing the whole child and really helping them hone in on their skills that are going to potentially keep them physically active for life.”

One of the untraditional methods Savala uses in her classes is splitting her students into different smaller squads. The members of the squads have more specific responsibilities to keep their squad performing well in the physical and mental exercises while learning the stepping stones for a healthy lifestyle.

“It’s a lot of social skills,” Savala said. “They develop these skills and they can work well together and push each other and hold each other accountable. It helps me a lot with classroom management and the kids really take on that responsibility. Especially the kids who are already athletic outside of school or who have different levels of ability.”

Compared to other places she’s taught physical education, Savala said that Long Beach and its rich athletic tradition only helps her do her job.

“Long Beach is very strong in the physical education and sport world,” she said. “The fact that we have middle school sports league competition is a big deal. That’s enticing for the students. It helps (make my job easier) because more of the kids enjoy sports. I’m trying to help all of the students of all levels learn to enjoy being physically active for life.”

Savala will be recognized next month at the 2022 CAHPERD Conference.

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