Meet the 2020 Teachers of the Year

SHAPE PA is proud to recognize and celebrate the work of outstanding educators in Pennsylvania. The current program honors teachers at four levels: elementary, middle school, high school, and university.

Award winners at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels will be eligible and (along with further information and documentation) to become Pennsylvania’s nominees considered for Teacher of the Year with SHAPE America Eastern District and the SHAPE America.

To be considered for Teacher of the year, teachers must:

  • Conduct a comprehensive and diverse physical education, health, or adapted program that utilizes essential components and physical literacy (or health literacy) as reflected in SHAPE America Standards and Guidelines for K-12 physical education programs
  • Utilize various teaching methodologies and appropriate instructional practices
  • Plan and implement innovative and diverse experiences to meet the needs of all students 
  • Advocates for the profession
  • Participate in professional development opportunities.

Our Teacher of the Year Program is proudly sponsored by US Games, OPEN, and BSN Sports. Our sponsors provide our award winners banners to display in their classrooms, teacher of the year branded apparel, and a gift certificate to use for purchasing school equipment. We are so grateful for the outstanding work that these teachers and all educators in our field provide for our students in PA! It's time to meet our 2020 award winners! 


 

 

Diana Bogust is an Elementary Health and Physical Education teacher and K-6 Physical Education Department Chair in the Exeter Township School District, currently teaching at Owatin Creek Elementary.  Born and raised in Wisconsin, she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Health and Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  After two years of teaching in Wisconsin, she relocated to Pennsylvania and soon earned her Master’s of Education in Special Education from West Chester University.  She has created numerous school-wide programs to promote healthy living and enjoys collaborating with her talented colleagues in innovative ways.  She has received mini-grants to support her programs and in 2012 was awarded a $100,000 Live Positively Fitness Center from the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils.   She was named the 2019 LLBAHPERD Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.  In her free time, she loves camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, and traveling with her husband and three sons.

 Amanda Geer teaches middle school physical education in the Lewisburg Area School District. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Lock Haven University and her Master's Degree in Exercise Science from the California University of PA.  Amanda leads an outdoor/adventure education unit that utilizes an on-site low ropes course and indoor rock wall. The "challenge by choice" curriculum allows students to build leadership, trust, cooperation, communication, and problem-solving. In addition to teaching physical education, Amanda served as a student council advisor where she coordinated fundraisers, school dances carnival, and field/fun day. Amanda also serves as I was asked to be a mentor for new incoming teachers, coached basketball for 7 years at the JV level and 7th-grade level before taking a break to start a family. Amanda is working with student teachers and is working to building the after-school intramural program. 

 

   
Heather Deitz is a Health and Physical Education Teacher at Reading High School.  She has been a health and physical educator for 14 years, 6 of those years with the Reading School District.  During her time at Reading, Heather is able to focus on her passion:  teaching swimming skills to students in grades 10-12.  She is a 2007 graduate of West Chester University, with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology.  In 2018, Heather became involved in the Lancaster-Lebanon-Berks chapter of SHAPE PA and is currently the chapter’s President-Elect.  In March 2020, Heather was named LLBAHPERD’s High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.  Heather resides in Wyomissing with her family (husband of 12 years, her two sons, and the family dog).  She is very excited about this award and looks forward to working with SHAPE PA!

 

Nickie Moore teaches health and physical education in the Clarion-Limestone School District. She received her bachelor's in Health and Physical Education from the Indiana University of PA, and her Masters's in Curriculum and insurrection from Lock Haven University. She currently serves on the Clarion-Limestone School District Wellness Committee as well as the Student Assistance Program. Nickie works with Clarion-Limestone's Professional Development Team to instruct and present to other teachers and staff as well as serves as a mentor teacher to new teachers coming into the district. She is responsible for implementing the use of heart rate monitors in the district, creating and revising the health curriculum, and planning and coordinating the implementation of a district wellness center.  Nickie serves as the Red Cross Club Advisor where they organize many events each year within the community such as collecting coats for the homeless, promiting CPR awareness, hosting heart month activities, and toy drives for Children's Hospital.

 

Dr. Fran Cleland is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at West Chester University in West Chester, PA. She has been teaching at WCU for twenty-six years and is the Chair of the Health and Physical Education Teacher Certification Program. Dr. Cleland has received numerous state, district and national awards including the SHAPE PA Elmer B. Cottrell award and the national SHAPE America Honor award. Most recently she was inducted into the North American Society of HPERSD Professionals. Dr. Cleland was SHAPE America President in 2017-18. She also served as President of SHAPE PA. She is the lead author of the textbook, Developmental Physical Education for All Children – Theory into Practice to be published in 2017. Fran is married to a health and physical educator and has five grandchildren. She loves to move and her special interests are modern dance, biking, tennis, gardening, cross-country skiing, hiking, and swimming. 
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