Closing the fitness gap: AISD's Director of Health & Fitness advocates for holistic approach

AUSTIN, Texas — The past couple of years have been undeniably challenging for educators.

Pat Werner, Austin ISD's Director of Health and Physical Education, candidly acknowledges the toll, stating, "It's been a tough season, to be honest. It has been."

With 23 years at AISD, including time as a P.E. teacher at Becker Elementary, Werner's commitment to the holistic education of students shines through.

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"We are in the business of educating the whole child. That tended to be, at the time, a catchphrase. That's not a catchphrase in my department," said Werner.

With pride, she claims that AISD boasts one of the nation's best physical education programs, a result of her direct involvement in its establishment.

But as students head back to the classroom, the significance of physical education takes center stage, especially considering the escalating childhood obesity crisis.

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A new study conducted by The University of Texas in Austin professor Paul von Hippel and the University of Iowa's David Frisvold sheds light on the compliance of schools nationwide with physical education (P.E.) time requirements, revealing a critical gap.

The research spans from 1998 to 2016, during which 24 states and the District of Columbia enacted laws to increase P.E. time, hoping to combat childhood obesity.

However, these efforts failed to curb obesity rates, raising questions about the effectiveness of such policies.

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"Schools are really part of the solution when it comes to the obesity epidemic. We should be grateful that schools are opening now in the middle of August," said researcher Paul von Hippel. "The other piece is that schools actually struggle with these state laws. They find it difficult to find enough time in the day. So you really can't count school being the only place your kids are active."

This study comes at a crucial time, as childhood obesity worsened during the pandemic.

During the 2020-2021 school year, AISD tested over 11,000 elementary and middle school students, indicating that almost 50% did not meet BMI standards, and over 30% were classified as high risk.

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While AISD adheres to the state-mandated requirement of 135 minutes of P.E. per week, Werner emphasizes the need for a tailored strategy this year to suit the unique characteristics of each campus.

Werner explains, "We can't get 120 plus kids into the gym at one time." She underscores the district's shift in perspective, stating, "Instead of mandating that everybody does PE every day, we needed to give campuses some flexibility."

This change aims to accommodate diverse student populations and optimize the impact of P.E. classes within the constraints of varying campus facilities and resources.

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Despite state-mandated P.E. time, Werner emphasizes the need for flexibility and a holistic approach to children's well-being.

"Our physical education program is by far the best, I think, in the nation. I say that very proudly because I have helped build it from the start," says Werner.

The pandemic has profoundly affected children's health, with the CDC reporting a doubling body mass index for ages two to 19.

Werner expresses her disappointment in missed opportunities for funding allocation in education, and how her team at AISD, with just three staff members for K-12, faces limitations despite their dedication.

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She reflects on the decisions at the state level, sharing her disappointment, "It was really disappointing to me personally... knowing that we had money from the state legislature that could be put into education, and they made a conscious choice not to do that."

Werner's passion for education is evident, as she adds, "I could do so much more to support our teachers if we had more boots on the ground."

If you'd like to read Dr. Paul von Hippel click here.