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Dream Jobs: Sue Turner Blows A Phy. Ed. Whistle

ST. PAUL (WCCO) ― All this month, we here at WCCO This Morning have been presenting our dream jobs. This morning, I got the chance to live my dream of being an elementary school physical education teacher.

I visited Highland Park Elementary in St. Paul and found out quickly the job requires a lot of stamina.

For warm-up, each student thinks of a different exercise and leads it for 10 seconds. With more than 20 kids in the class, it makes for a good workout.

Judy Ryder has been teaching physical education class for 30 years and, trust me, the syllabus has likely changed since you and I went to gym class.

"I want them to have fun, and at the same time I get a lot of exercise. So, I'm not really with the old school of push-ups and sit-ups," said Ryder.

Still, she says she now pushes walking with her classes because it's something they can do their whole lives.

In almost every activity, upbeat music is key. And one thing you may remember: having a whistle means having power.

Ryder does this six times a day for 16 different classes, but being a gym teacher is about more than being fun and in shape.

"My course work was very rich in the sciences -- anatomy, physiology, microbiology, kinesiology, which is what the major is actually called now," said Ryder.

She gets creative with her exercises. In fact, she loves music and rhythms so much, she helps the kids put on a show. When I visited the school, the second graders were performing their fully-choreographed scooter routine.

Teamwork is still stressed along with sportsmanship. In the end, these kids come away knowing exercise is something to look forward to.

I have to admit I was exhausted after just one class, but it wasn't just the kids who had a great time.

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