1. PRESS RELEASE
For more information, contact:
William Bennett (703) 476-3485; wbennett@shapeamerica.org
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Charlottesville School Teacher Honored as
Southern District Dance Education Teacher of the Year
RESTON, VA, March 28, 2016 – Charlottesville, VA, resident Scott Williams of Meriwether Lewis
Elementary School will be honored as the Southern District Dance Education Teacher of the Year by
SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators at its 131st
National Convention & Expo
in Minneapolis, April 5-9.
SHAPE America’s Southern District represents 13 states from Virginia to Texas. The award is given in
recognition of outstanding teaching performance and the ability to motivate today's youth to participate
in a lifetime of physical activity through dance.
Williams, a physical education teacher at Meriwether Lewis Elementary for the past 11 years, will vie
with one other district winner for the distinguished honor of National Dance Education Teacher of the
Year. At the convention, SHAPE America and SPARK & Sportime – innovators of equipment and
evidence-based programs for physical educators – will celebrate the 27th anniversary of this Teacher of
the Year awards collaboration.
The National Dance Education Teacher of the Year award recipient will be announced on Friday,
April 8 at the SHAPE America Hall of Fame Banquet, sponsored by Human Kinetics, an employee-
owned company committed to serving the physical activity field. Lindsay Whalen, U.S. Olympian, five-
time WNBA All-Star and point guard for the Minnesota Lynx, and former Pittsburgh Steeler All-Pro
Guard Alan Faneca, will be inducted into the SHAPE America Hall of Fame that evening.
Williams introduces his students to dance in a variety of ways. While in physical education class, the
students are encouraged to create their own dances and participate in instant activities like dance-
offs. He often leads the entire student body during schoolwide assemblies in dances that they have
learned in class.
The educator also created a program at Meriwether which gives students the opportunity to
choreograph their own dance videos for the whole school to watch. Known as Meriwether Morning
Movers, the program offers students the opportunity to come into the gym at lunch, access the
stage, a speaker, and an iPod; and give them the creative freedom to express themselves. These
videos are then shown on the classroom monitors each morning during the announcements.

2. “A central component of Scott’s program is fostering a dance culture school-wide. Referred to as ‘the
school that dances’ by our superintendent, dance is embedded into a variety of student activities
thanks to Scott’s effort,” says Meriwether Lewis Principal Michael C. Irani.
Williams is also a founding member and the lead choreographer of a group of male faculty and staff
called the Men of Meriwether (MoM). The group performs dances for Meriwether Movers and gives
students an opportunity to see how their teachers embrace physical activity through dance.
In addition, he gives his students the opportunity to choreograph and practice their own dance moves in
front of an audience during his Hip Hop and Fit class after school.
“Scott’s love of dance has compelled him to share his enthusiasm with other teachers through dance
presentations on state and national levels,” says Andrew Wymer, Burley Middle School health and PE
teacher. “To him, dance is not a unit to be done once a year and move on. Dance is a way for his
students to understand the healthy benefits of moving. His school is a year round dancing school!”
In 2015, Williams received the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance (VAHPERD) K-12 Dance Educator of the Year award. In 2013, he was named VAHPERD
Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. He also served on the VAHPERD Membership
Committee for the past three years.
Williams received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Fairmont State College and earned
his master’s degree in athletic coaching from West Virginia University.
For more information about SHAPE America’s National Convention & Expo, visit the website and
follow hashtag #SHAPEMinneapolis.
About SHAPE America
SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators is the nation’s largest membership
organization of health and physical education professionals. Since its founding in 1885, the
organization has defined excellence in physical education, and our National Standards for K-12
Physical Education serve as the foundation for well-designed physical education programs across
the country. We provide programs, resources and advocacy to support health and physical
educators at every level, from preschool to university graduate programs.
SHAPE America has 50 state affiliates and is a founding partner of national initiatives such as the
Presidential Youth Fitness Program, Let’s Move! Active Schools and the Jump Rope For
Heart/Hoops For Heart programs. “50 Million Strong by 2029” is our commitment to empower
all children to lead healthy and active lives through health and physical education programs. For
more information, visit http://www.shapeamerica.org.
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