Health and Physical Education
Celebrating Lifelong Wellness
Health & Physical Education are both strongly linked to the increased academic success of youth. A young person's ability to learn is also linked to their ability to feel safe in the classroom, relate to lessons, and have fun.
PPS Health & Physical Education programs use evidence-informed best practices to foster safe, supportive and fun learning environments that engage diverse students in their development of skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to thrive academically, and to celebrate lifelong wellness.
Our Vision & Mission
Vision:
All Portland Public School students will engage in equitable, inclusive, skills-based health and adapted/physical education so they may become confident, resilient, and empathetic advocates for themselves and others.
Mission:
All PPS students will participate in equitable, inclusive, and skills-based Health and Physical Education in a safe and supportive environment. The PPS Health and Physical Education team will:
- Provide authentic, skills-based health and adapted/physical education professional learning opportunities to students, families, teachers, and building administrators,
- Facilitate the adoption and development of inclusive and culturally relevant and responsive evidence-informed curriculum,
- Engage the collective community by including students, families, building administrators, community partners, and government entities in the health and adapted/physical education of all young people.
Our Team
Dr. Jenny Withycombe
pronouns: she/her
Assistant Director for Health & Physical Education PK-12
hape@pps.net
Elena Beeck
pronouns: they/them
Business Operations Specialist
Vanessa Peña-La Torre
pronouns: she/they
SAY Wellness Grant Program Manager
Anna Bledsoe
pronouns: she/they
SAY Wellness Grant Program Supervisor
Susannah Lightbourne-Maynard
pronouns: she/her
Grant-Funded TOSA
Rachel Toback
pronouns: she/they
SUAP Grant Program Manager