Michele Ostrowski

Ostrowski’s innovative teaching idea, “GetFit,” is focused on addressing the issue of childhood obesity that is a major health concern in this country, including in West Virginia. Ostrowski says the school’s physical education classes will adopt a "fitness for life"-based curriculum. The new curriculum incorporates state approved standards through teaching strategies that help students develop skills and encourage lifelong habits of healthy eating and regular exercise. The effort will be centered on getting students to visually monitor and track movement and heart rate during exercise through the use of pedometers and heart rate monitors. It also includes a fitness program that can be continued long after they leave school. Ostrowski says the school would also like to improve the school’s wellness center by adding new weights and cardio equipment. She believes other departments will benefit from this effort, including English classes coming in on their reading day, and science and math classes learning how to measure and determine energy expenditure.