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A PE Teacher Putting the Fun in Fitness at Copper Mountain Middle School and Making a Big Difference in Young Lives
Description
He is a long-time physical education teacher who has put the fun in fitness and inspired students along the way.
On this episode of the Supercast, we head to the gymnasium at Copper Mountain Middle School. There, we discover why PE teacher Patrick Keating and specialist Tricia Rojas are passionate about finding interesting ways to keep kids active and why it is so important, especially in middle school.
Audio Transcription
[Music]Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. He is a long-time physical education teacher who has been making fitness fun and inspiring students for many years.
On this episode of the Supercast, we head to the gym at Copper Mountain Middle School. There we find out why PE teacher Patrick Keating and specialist Tricia Rojas are passionate about finding interesting ways to keep kids active and why it is so important, especially in middle school.
[Music]We're here at Copper Mountain Middle School to talk about physical education with Pat Keating and Tricia Rojas. I'll give you just a moment to introduce yourselves.
Pat Keating:
I'm Pat Keating and I've been at Copper Mountain Middle for, this is my 11th year. Total years of teaching this is the 33rd year for me.
Tricia Rojas:
Hi, I'm Tricia Rojas. I'm the Health and PE specialist for Jordan School District. I support all of our Health and PE teachers as they support our students. I've been in this district for five years now, started out my teaching career in Texas, and really happy to be here. Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
You spent time in the military as well.
Tricia Rojas:
That's true.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about all the things you've done that have led you to this point.
Tricia Rojas:
Well, so I did. I went right in the military when I graduated high school and worked on weapon systems. In the military, you get a side duty or a collateral duty in addition to your normal job. Mine was to facilitate the fitness test that all military personnel are supposed to do every six months. I would hold that and then anyone who didn't pass, I would train them for the next six months and get them into shape, get them ready. I ended up loving that job more than my main job that I was there to do. That's where I started, I got my interest in fitness and health.
After the military, I went into the fitness industry where I became a personal trainer, got my kinesiology degree. As time went on, my husband was a teacher, he was a coach, and inspired me. So I went into education and ended up loving it.
Anthony Godfrey:
I love that. That's a great range of experience that you bring to help support teachers. Now Mr. Keating, I'm going to have to call you Mr. Keating. I'm a Big Dead Poet Society fan. Mr. Keating.
Pat Keating:
Seize the day.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes, that's right. Tell us about where you first got interested in fitness and the journey that brought you here. I know you've worked at a lot of different schools with a lot of people that you and I have in common over the years.
Pat Keating:
Yeah, for sure. First of all, I played sports my whole life. I couldn't get enough of sports. I pretty much dabbled in just about every sport known to man. In college, I played football up at Idaho State and stuff. I didn't go into the military. I had all four brothers who went into the military, I was the only one that didn't. They said, "If you can go play football in college, you go play football." So I did.
And then I just, for whatever reason, sports just became such a part of my life and fitness and stuff. I just thought, "You know what? This would be a great thing for me to pursue." So I went into education and I got a double major in special education and physical education. So I have b