Deer Lakes’ Meghan Bright Wins Award for Teaching ‘Overall Health’

Students at Curtisville Primary learn more than just soccer and dodgeball in Meghan Bright’s class.

She teaches them from an early age how to take care of their bodies by giving them the right fuel, sleep and emotional balance.

“Starting in kindergarten, my students learn about the functions of their body systems and how to care for those systems,” said Bright, 31, a teacher in Deer Lakes for 10 years.

With her youngest classes, they might practice motor skills by throwing scarves and catching them with different body parts. Older students might be assigned to throw a ball across the gymnasium, one at a time, with the fun twist of “no hands allowed.”

“My students learn about the effects that exercise has on the brain,” she said.

“This approach provides them with knowledge and skills that they will carry with them throughout their lives, enabling them to commit to their overall well-being throughout their lives.”

Bright’s methods have caught the attention of SHAPE PA, a group focused on promoting health and physical education.

The Cranberry resident won the organization’s 2024 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year award for her innovation and advocacy. She will be honored in November at a state conference in Manheim.

“This award is a testament to the collective efforts of everyone I work with at Curtisville and the continued work we do to make our school one of the healthiest in the country,” Bright said.

“Building strong relationships with my students and colleagues at Curtisville is central to my teaching philosophy,” Bright said.

“These connections are the foundation of everything I do. They allow me to create a learning environment where students feel supported, motivated and understood.”

According to the SHAPE PA website, students should offer a diverse program that meets the needs of all students and use innovative methods to attract students with diverse interests.

Curtisville Director Jennifer Cavalancia called Bright a dynamic model for promoting overall wellness.

“Meghan creates a personalized learning environment where every student has the opportunity to strive for success with routines and practices that are accessible to all – taking into account physical, developmental, cultural and linguistic differences,” Cavalancia said.

People in the hallway can often hear celebrations coming from the gym as students achieve their personal goals, Cavalancia says.

“I am proud to have her as part of our team,” she said.

Bright is a graduate of Seneca Valley High School and Slippery Rock University and is an outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and swimming and hopes to instill the same love of adventure in her students.

Bright joined the team first as a student teacher and later as a substitute. Since then he has worked as a technology coach and well-being teacher.

“My class is called wellness because it combines movement and health concepts,” she said.

“I focus on physical, mental, and emotional well-being in every session. The structure of my classroom reflects the Whole Child approach, which goes beyond academics to address students’ social-emotional, physical, and safety needs.”

Her goal is to equip students for academic success and learn how to manage stress, make healthy choices, and care for their physical and mental well-being.

During her time at Deer Lakes, Bright created a bimonthly newsletter to keep families informed and engaged. She is the elementary school’s Field Day coordinator and the district’s liaison to Kids of Steel, which organizes year-round programs to help students become physically active and set healthy goals.

She also organizes staff well-being activities and hosts a ‘Get Moving Night’ for families in grades 1 to 5.

Earlier this week, Bright installed sensory stickers in the school’s hallways to encourage children to explore while moving.

She was nominated by several colleagues for the SHAPE PA award.

“When I was a young adult fresh out of college 10 years ago, the staff at Curtisville and East Union took me under their wing and made me feel at home,” she said.

“I am incredibly grateful to those who believed in me enough to nominate me for this recognition. The students at Curtisville make me proud every day and I truly love what I do. My passion is to continue to inspire students and staff to find ways to take care of their bodies and minds throughout their lives.”