Congratulations to Meghan Bright who was recently named the SHAPE PA Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year!

Mrs. Bright, who is the Wellness teacher at Curtisville Primary, has taught at Deer Lakes for 10 years with a commitment to fostering a love for movement and healthy habits in her classroom and across the entire school community.

“This award is a testament to the collaborative efforts of everyone I work with at Curtisville and the ongoing work we put in to make our school one of the healthiest in the country,” Mrs. Bright said. “Building strong relationships with my students and colleagues at Curtisville has been at the heart of my teaching philosophy. These connections are the foundation of everything I do, allowing me to create a learning environment where students feel supported, motivated, and understood. The trust and collaboration that result from these bonds have been essential in driving the success of our programs and in making a lasting impact on our school culture.”

Mrs. Bright’s approach to Wellness classes isn’t simply about playing games.

“Starting in kindergarten, my students learn about the functions of their body systems, how to care for those systems, how to fuel their bodies properly, what quality sleep can do for them, and how to regulate their emotions,” she said. “They also learn about the effects movement has on the brain among many other things. This approach equips them with knowledge and skills they will carry with them for life, creating a lifelong commitment to their overall wellness.”

At Curtisville and within the school community, Mrs. Bright has taken on various leadership roles as an active member of the Curtisville Wellness Committee, the district Wellness Committee, and the PBIS Committee. With the help of the wellness committee, Mrs. Bright created a bi-monthly Curtisville wellness newsletter for families to keep them informed and engaged with wellness initiatives. As the Kids of Steel coordinator, she organizes schoolyear and summer programs that encourage students to engage in physical activity and set healthy goals. She is also Curtisville’s Field Day coordinator.

Mrs. Bright plays a critical role in Curtisville’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) efforts, ensuring that wellness is integrated into the school’s approach to supporting students' emotional well-being. She also plans and organizes staff wellness activities and challenges and hosts Get Moving Night for K-5 families. She additionally collaborates with the Food Services Department on various building initiatives, including food tastings and managing tower gardens.

Mrs. Bright also writes grants to secure resources for Curtisville and is part of the team that handles the application process for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation - America’s Healthiest Schools Award.

Several coworkers nominated Mrs. Bright for the SHAPE PA Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year award.

Mrs. Bright was informed of the nominations and then outlined her qualifications in the following five categories: Comprehensive Program, Teaching Methodologies, Innovative Experiences, Student Assessment, and Advocacy and Professional Development.

“This thorough process allowed me to reflect on and showcase the work I’ve been doing, and I’m incredibly grateful to those who believed in me enough to nominate me for this recognition,” she said.

Mrs. Bright also said this award would not be possible “without the unwavering support of the Curtisville Primary staff, our dedicated administrators, and my mentor, (Middle School Wellness teacher) Ron Nichols.”

“When I first started as a young adult right out of college 10 years ago, the staff at Curtisville and East Union took me under their wings and made me feel at home,” she said. “Their guidance and encouragement have been invaluable to my growth as an educator. I am incredibly grateful to wake up every day and do what I love. The students at Curtisville make me proud every day, and I truly love what I do. My passion is to continue inspiring students and staff to find ways to care for their body and mind for life. This award is as much a reflection of the amazing people I work with as it is of my own efforts.”