P.E. Games/Exercise Equipment

Will Robbins is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Richard Sallee.

Donation protected

When I first arrived at Frankfort High School, I was excited. I had come from a smaller school in Indiana and was excited to see what kind of opportunities a bigger school, like Frankfort, could offer me. I had been hired as a Health and P.E. teacher, Aquatics Director, and swimming coach. With that being said, the latter has been what I have been known for the most. "The swim dude", "swimming teacher", and most affectionately, "coach" has been used unanimously with Mr. Robbins in the halls as well as the classroom.

I love working here. I have never seen a P.E. Department more motivated to fight for students' overall health. Many times, in many communities, there has been a lack of effort to advocate for being physically active. There has been a complacency in other schools. P.E. teachers call it "rolling out the ball"; this is where the teacher will set out a cart of basketballs and say have at them. This could be fun for some students; however, what are they learning? Not very much. I am proud that days like that cannot be found in Frankfort High School P.E. classes. The proof is sweat on the weight room floor as Mr. Potts is calling out what lift is next in APC; the sound of dozens of basketballs bouncing in Case Arena, then suddenly stopping all at once as Mr. Galati or Miss Ulrich describe the next skill to their Freshmen P.E. class. The yelling, "foul!" by Mr. Sallee as the kickball goes over the third baseline in his Lifetime Sports class. I know that I have great teaching all around me, and that is what pushes me to be better.

Unfortunately, there is something that is holding us back. With the budget cuts in education mandated by the state legislator, we, P.E. teachers, have had to do the same job with less. Even with athletic teams contributing, school fundraising, P.E. department funds, and athletic dollars, we still find that we cannot afford to buy the implements we need. There has been more of an emphasis on state testing subjects and less on P.E. statewide, causing us to become the bottom of the state budget when it comes to getting the resources we need. So every day we use broken bumper plates, bent tennis racquets, and duct taped whiffle ball bats.

I know we are a low income school, but the students we teach are rich in heart. Teaching them in P.E. to be physically active will not only lead them to be healthy, but also make good decisions that will make them productive members in our society. I love my job, and I cannot tell you how thankful our department will be for any contributions to our program.

Here are some examples of the equipment: