Smallwood teacher receives state award

Higgins

Jennifer Higgins, an elementary physical education teacher at Smallwood Elementary School in the Amherst School District, is the 2007 recipient of the Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

The association is a statewide, not-for-profit professional development service organization whose membership comprises health and physical education teachers and directors, recreation and dance specialists, and college professors and students.

Higgins was presented with her award at the association's 70th annual conference in November.

She was recognized for innovative approaches to teaching, in which she makes the school and community her classroom.

Higgins has received accolades from parents, colleagues, students and administrators for her efforts on behalf of physical education programming. She has successfully written many local and state grants in addition to having received the prestigious Carol M. White Grant on two different occasions.

She received her undergraduate degree at Ithaca College and completed her master's degree at Canisius College. She has been a physical education teacher for 16 years at Smallwood.

The association presenting Higgins' award encourages, facilitates, advocates for and promotes physically active and healthy lifestyles through school and community programs in health education, physical education, recreation and dance.