Retiring PE Teacher Promotes Lifelong Activity
by Jim Evans

Valerie Nelson

"I like what I do, and I’ve had the best time over the years."

Those are the words of Valerie Nelson, who is retiring from Olive Peirce Middle School after 19 1/2 years.

Originally from Calgary, Canada, Nelson graduated from the University of Oklahoma and began her teaching career in the La Puente, Calif. school district. Specializing in physical education, she taught for 2 1/2 years before getting married and raising a family.

"I stopped teaching so that I could be a ‘stay-at-home-mom,’ " Nelson said, "and I’m glad I did. It probably made me a better teacher, and I know that it probably wouldn’t be possible today."

Nelson returned to teaching after her children, Kim and Chad, graduated from Ramona High School and left the nest to go on to graduate from college.

"Although I was voted the outstanding athlete in my high school as a youngster, and I have always been very competitive, I have learned that physical education is much more than just sports and competition," Nelson said. "It also develops important social skills and teaches students how to do as well as they can even if they can’t be the best.

"I encourage them to get involved in something — to find their niche — and experience as much as they can. Middle school and high school can be over before they know it, and they have to be able to fend in the real world.

"I’ve found that the best place to judge how children are developing and learning is through their social interaction on the playground."

Nelson helped start the soccer and volleyball programs at Ramona High School and started the middle-school basketball program.

"It’s been fun to see some of these youngsters come back years later and remember when I coached them in soccer or some other sport. I tried to make it a positive experience for them."

How does she feel about the growing epidemic of obesity among children in this country?

"We have been fortunate in Ramona to still have physical education as an integral part of our curriculum," Nelson said, "so I haven’t seen it to the degree that other communities around the country might be experiencing it. I try to encourage the kids to move around as much as possible — to stay physically active by doing things together and with their families — because if you don’t encourage them to move as youngsters, they won’t do it as adults. Our parents are very involved in what their kids are doing, too, and that makes a difference too."

Visiting her grandchildren more often is definitely one of Nelson’s priorities after she retires.

"Yes, my husband (Bill) and I plan to spend more time with the grandkids (in Eastlake), visit our daughter in Las Vegas, and visit some of Bill’s family in Arkansas. And I hope to play the piano again and work on my golf game too."

Staying involved in something — this is a teacher who practices what she preaches.