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Health Is Elementary: Clinton Honors 2 Tampa Schools

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By MARILYN BROWN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 7, 2008

TAMPA - Two Tampa elementary schools were honored Wednesday in Little Rock, Ark., by former President Clinton for their efforts in fighting obesity and making their schools healthier places.

A ban on candy, a painted activity course on school sidewalks, pedometers for staff and exercise DVDs for each classroom were among practices of the Tampa schools recognized by an alliance of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association.

The 43 winning schools also met criteria for nutrition, physical activity and employee wellness.

"These schools really worked hard," said Rain Henderson, associate director for strategic initiatives for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, sponsor of the awards.

This is the second year for the recognitions. Schools vie for platinum, gold, silver or bronze status. Last year, there were only bronze winners, Henderson said. This year, there were seven silver winners and 36 bronze.

Both Clair Mel and Kenly were bronze winners. Both are high poverty schools with high percentages of minority students.

Sue Creekmore, a fifth-grade teacher at Clair Mel Elementary last year, and Mary Melvin, guidance counselor at Kenly Elementary, accepted certificates from Clinton at his presidential library in Little Rock.

"It was fabulous," said Creekmore, ready to begin her 32nd year of teaching. "It's a very humbling experience to have a president of the United States travel this far and put this much emphasis on health."

Clair Mel's limited space led to acquiring pedometers for staff to encourage moving more and buying a fitness DVD for each classroom, she said. The Hillsborough Education Foundation picked up the tab and the 30-minute DVD was "a real hit" with teachers and students to use for a few minutes or an entire physical education class, she said.

When Creekmore transfers to Graham Elementary this week, she plans to bring more ideas she gained from three days of programs and national speakers in Little Rock.

The alliance paid all travel expenses for the award winners.

Melvin was impressed with Clinton's message.

"It was wonderful," Melvin said. "He gave a very stirring, impassioned speech about how important student health is to the future of our world."

Kenly's painted activity course on school sidewalks and its ban on candy were cited by the alliance.

Melvin and the physical education teacher spray-painted bright lily pads, footprints, ladybugs and tires on the sidewalks from a stencil made by an art teacher, Melvin said. Students hop, skip and jump on them as they travel around the school.

"They love it," said Erica Reid, a third-grade teacher working at Kenly on Wednesday. She takes her students the long way around the walkways to fit in more movement.

"It's been a long time coming," said Kenly Principal Shirlean Cobb of the effort that includes professionals from the community instructing students on health and staff wellness activities. "In 30 years, I have never seen as much as we're pushing forth with this."

As to the candy ban, teachers instead offer extra outdoor activity time, pretzels, stickers or other healthful treats as rewards, and no one complains, Cobb said.

Cristina Rivera, a parent registering her daughter for kindergarten Wednesday, said the policy is "interesting."

"I remember getting marshmallows," she said. "I think it's good - my child's hyper enough."

About 2,900 schools nationwide are part of the Healthy Schools Program under the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Hillsborough has had healthy school teams in 50 elementary schools, including the two winning schools. All middle and high schools will have them this year. By summer 2009, the rest of the elementary schools should have the teams.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069 or mbrown@tampatrib.com.

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