When Tecca Kilmer was growing up, she was fascinated with the space program and the buzz that existed around astronauts, NASA and walking on the moon.
Now, Kilmer gets to be part of it.
The Turkey Creek Middle School physical-education teacher was selected as one of eight educators nationally to help create a curriculum for students for NASA’s “Train Like an Astronaut” program.
“I’m still trying to figure out if this is real,” Kilmer said. “I can’t believe I get to be part of something this special.”
Kilmer arrived July 15, to the NASA Johnson Space Center, in Houston, and returns July 19, to Plant City. She was invited by NASA’s Human Reach Program Education and Outreach and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance to help develop the program.
TLA is geared toward 8- to 12-year-old students. It is a physical approach to human health and fitness on Earth and in space. Students participating in TLA will complete physical-fitness activities modeled after the real-life physical requirements of astronauts.
So far, there are 10 physical and three educational activities available to formal and informal educators. Kilmer and the team will expand these lessons, tweaking them for use for middle-school students.
“I like the program, because it’s applicable to elementary-age students dealing with movement in physical education, and for middle-school students, it becomes more fitness-focused,” Kilmer said. “And, of course, there’s a crossover into math and science.”
During her time at the space center, Kilmer has been working with six other physical education teachers and AAHPERD Senior Director of Programs Cheryl Richardson. But, perhaps the most exciting co-workers are the astronauts themselves.
On the first day, the team toured the Buoyancy Lab and watched two astronauts complete a space-simulating exercise underwater. Wednesday, the team observed students interacting with an astronaut.
“This helps us get more background of what NASA does,” Kilmer said.
“AAHPERD and NASA share mutual goals of engaging children to live healthier, active lives,” AAHPERD Chief Executive Officer E. Paul Roetert said. “We are honored that our outstanding physical-education teachers have been selected to provide input and guidance to getting children more physically active.”
Kilmer has taught physical education at Turkey Creek for 17 years. The Plant City school received national acclaim in 2004, when it became a National Association for Sport and Physical Education STARS school under Kilmer’s leadership.
STARS schools exemplify excellence in teaching students the knowledge, skills and confidence needed for motor development to achieve movement competency, health-related fitness and promoting lifelong physical activity. To earn that distinction, the Turkey Creek physical education staff compiled documentation for about a year to submit to NASPE for review.
Turkey Creek offers its students 50-minute physical education classes daily. Xavix interactive gaming equipment has been added to the fitness program which has helped motivate students.
“The whole thing about physical education is teaching students how to live,” Kilmer said. “I get to wake up every day and teach students how to live. I love my job.”
Originally from West Virginia, Kilmer graduated from West Virginia University and went on to obtained her master’s degree in adapted physical education, from the University of South Florida.
Kilmer serves on both the Southern District Board in the Physical Education Division as vice president and is the president-elect for Florida Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Dance and Sport.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
