Northern Alum Awarded
NASPE Elementary Physical Educator of the Year
Spring 2003

On April 4, 2003, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) announced Carol Ann Cooke as the Elementary School Physical Educator of the Year. The NASPE is a national, non profit, professional organization striving for better physical education in schools and in the general public. The national convention was held on April 1 5 in Philadelphia, PA.

The Northwest district, which includes Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, selected Mrs. Cooke as the district winner, and she then competed with five other district winners for the "National Teacher of the Year" title. A thirty minute, unedited, videotape of the contestant teaching is the basis for choosing a winner.

Carol Ann Cooke received her bachelor degree in physical education from Northern Montana College (now Montana State University-Northern) in 1976 and a Masters degree in education at the University of North Dakota. She currently teaches physical education at Emily Dickinson Elementary School in Bozeman, Montana where she began in 1986.

Mrs. Cooke has always prided her teaching on including everyone in class, and not letting one child feel left out or unfit for participation. She bases her teaching on making improvement, not on separating children into winners and losers. Former principal of Emily Dickinson Elementary School, E. Dean Mikkelson, describes her as a "positive and capable individual" whom he enjoyed working with. Cooke is also a professional member of many Montana and national organizations, including the NASPE, and has been published as a writer.

Carol is responsible for coining the term "Skylights" for the Northern women's athletic teams.
  

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