In its monthly “Spotlight” presentation honoring the accomplishments of selected students or faculty members within the Forest Park schools, the board chose to honor physical education teacher Jeanne Tyms.
Tyms, who has been working in Forest Park schools for 30 years, was also integral in assisting the district in coordinating schedules for teachers like herself who work in several Forest Park schools and in the schools’ transition to electronic grading.
“It was a great honor,” said Tyms. “I do appreciate being thought of highly. I have a very nice relationship with the people I work with, and it makes my job a lot easier.”
Tyms teaches all grades at Garfield School and Betsy Ross School, as well as 5th grade at Grant-White school.
She said that during her time with the district, she has had the opportunity to work with many former students who later became teachers or to meet with them again once they began sending their own children to Forest Park schools.
“It’s a very rewarding thing, seeing the kids grow,” she said.
She said that in recent years, she has seen the emphasis placed on physical education in schools grow as parents have become more concerned with increased obesity and inactivity among children.
Though she is limited by space and resources, she said, she does her best to integrate elements aside from traditional sports into her classes, including educating students on their muscle and bone structure.
“The main point of what I do is to have (students) realize that fitness is an important and imperative thing in our lives,” she said. “It’s always interesting, the things they remember years later.”
“People like (Tyms) are the reason we initiated the Spotlight program, so we can give recognition to those who really deserve it,” said Tinder.
