Iowa Association For Health, Physical Education, Recreation And Dance (IAHPERD)
State of Iowa
Legislature Alert
Secondary School Teacher of the Year- 2010
Matt Orton
From left to right: Matt Orton (Secondary Teacher of the Year)
Matt Orton has been a physical education teacher for 14 years. This is his first year at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids. Matt is a professional educator that teaches young people how to set goals, create a successful plan, evaluate their own progress, make adjustments and understand that a daily commitment to their own personal health will lead to a successful, longer, healthier life.
Matt puts his student’s needs first. He is a champion advocate
for his students and it is easy to see he is respected for it. He
embraces the wellness and fitness for all his students.
Matt implemented technology into the PE curriculum with the use of Polar
Heart Rate monitors. He organized the cardio room with rowing machines.
He engaged the industrial arts classes to build jump boxes ad other types
of equipment for the cardio. He has organized wellness/health fairs and
involved many of the community in presenting to the student body.
Matt has organized a summer program for elementary aged students with fitness, activity and healthy living as the goals. He arrange Hy-Vee dieticians, biking running, swimming and Cross Fit Kids as their work outs and healthy choices, helped students set goals and taught them how to monitor their fitness levels.
He embraces the goals and ideals for PE4Life over the last 5 years. Attending many of the PE4Life conferences and DuPage Institutes in Naperville, IL
Matt is a tireless advocate of physical education and what the ‘right thing” is for students. He has worked with the Adapted classes at West High to create Physical Education classes that kept students moving within their abilities and to have fun. Again, he developed the program with the cooperation of the Special Education teacher. Matt is a TRUE TEACHER and believer in all students. All students can learn…he has worked tirelessly and will work tirelessly to advocate for students and Physical Education.