Dr. Breon Derby, assistant associate professor of physical education and health at Black Hills State University, was awarded the title University Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the Society of Health & Physical Educators of South Dakota.
Nominated by students and peers for her fervent and visible dedication to assisting students achieve their full potential, Derby's record of service extends from changing lives on campus to serving as president of the SHAPE SD board. From her time as a student representative while pursuing her education at BHSU to crafting and presenting numerous scholarly papers and best practice demonstrations on pressing subjects in the field, Derby exhibits a palpable passion for her profession. Recently, two of Derby's students earned the National SHAPE Physical Education Major of the Year award, a demonstration of her impact on teaching and learning.
Dr. Betsy Silva, dean for the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at BHSU, in her letter of support to the SHAPE board said, "Dr. Breon Derby serves as the model for preparing future teachers in Physical Education! Dr. Derby creates experientially based courses carefully aligned with SHAPE America initial teaching standards to ensure her students effectively align lessons with SD Department of Education content standards."
A testament to Derby's character lies in one of her favorite Maya Angelou quotes, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
"This quote resonates with me as I try to live my life in a way that makes others around me feel joyful, supported, and accepted," Derby wrote.
For more information on SHAPE SD visit https://www.shapesd.org/.
Categories: South Dakota, Education