Former NFL Star Visits Pennsbury School

Two Pennsbury workers team up with a former NFL star to create a new and improved recess.

Pennsbury social worker Tammy Kehan-Leimer and Edgewood Elementary physical education teacher Joe Gallo put their heads together to create a new and improved version of recess that both inspires and engages students with varying social and athletic abilities.

The aim of Kehan-Leimer’s initiative was to help students with existing social communication difficulties. She explained the need and importance for such an initiative.

“We teach and facilitate communication at all other tines of the school day except for the times that are the most crucial for social growth and acceptance,” Kehan-Leimer said. “Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders have the most difficulty with social communication, but really all children can benefit from social instruction. It seemed perfectly logical to expand the program to instruct all students as to expected social behavior in a fun, engaging way!”

Gallo also reworked his curriculum by offering games that stressed the importance of cooperation in his weekly physical education. Classes, which in turn, translated to the playground during recess. The games focused on taking turns, good sportsmanship, eye contact, cooperation, respect, and conversation skills.

To further bolster this undertaking, Gallo and Kehan-Leimer affiliated Edgewood Elementary with Fuel Up to Play 60, a partnership between The National Football League and the National Dairy Council. 

Fuel Up to Play 60 gives students the opportunity to interact and make their schools healthier places by committing to healthy eating and participating in 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

“The Play 60 program is a perfect way to get children involved in the recess program and excited about physical activity. They don’t even realize we are also out there to ‘teach’ them about socialization. It’s a win-win all around,” Kehan-Leimer said.

The weekly-based program was incentive laden and students received tickets for their participation in it. Those tickets were then traded in for a special celebration on May 23 during their regularly scheduled recess times. Students by grade level took part in interactive and cooperative obstacle courses as well as NFL-inspired contests and games. Keeping with the true intent of Fuel Up to Play 60, the kids ate healthy snacks courtesy of some of Pennsbury’s generous partners.

As if all the fun and good eating weren’t enough, the highlight was that the kids would be playing and celebrating with former Philadelphia Eagle Troy Vincent. He is also the current NFL Vice President of Player Engagement and engages in quite a few directives aimed at giving back and encouraging the younger generation.

As a graduate of Pennsbury High School, Vincent’s presence resonates to an even larger degree with the students because he is both successful and homegrown and that only adds to the inspiration.

“The idea of playing at recess and socializing with a national role model like Mr. Vincent who also walked the halls of Pennsbury had a huge impact,” Kehan-Leimer said.

The commitment to helping the next generation develop in new and exciting ways is evident in the Pennsbury School District. The kids get to play, eat healthy, grow socially and most importantly, LEARN. Mission accomplished!