“If not now, when?” This question urged me to step up and apply for a role on the Board of Directors with SHAPE America. After a pandemic-imposed change in focus and a few years of concentrating on those closest to me – family and my students- it was time to return to serving my profession more significantly. Now, almost six months into my role on the Board, I’m loving it, and with recruitment season upon us, I want to encourage YOU to consider a volunteer leadership role with SHAPE America.

SHAPE America is guided by volunteers who are fundamental to the organization’s success, and opportunities currently exist to serve on program councils, publication review committees, and task forces. Doing so has many professional benefits, and in listing just a few of them below, I want to entice you to make a similar step in showing your dedication, sharing your knowledge, and helping to shape the direction of SHAPE America and the profession.

Professional Development: Serving on a task force for a state or national organization can be an excellent opportunity for you to enhance your professional development. You’ll gain exposure to new ideas, best practices, and the latest research in your field.

Networking: Being part of a task force allows you to interact with other professionals in the field. This interaction can lead to new relationships, collaborations, and further professional or career opportunities. I remember signing up for a health education task force purely because of the reputation of the existing members – I wanted to learn as much as possible from spending professional time with them.

Leadership Skills: Volunteering for a task force can help you develop your leadership skills. You may learn how to lead and facilitate meetings, work with others to achieve common goals, and manage projects. For teachers seeking a leadership opportunity, perhaps beyond the four walls of their school, working with a state/national organization will allow you to develop as a teacher-leader. This experience will come in handy if you apply to be considered for professional recognition.

Advocacy: Practice what you preach. Just as we ask our health students to develop their advocacy skills, task forces often work on issues important to the profession. By participating, you can advocate for our profession and help shape policies that affect our work.

Recognition: Too often, our work is taken for granted, so receiving credit for our efforts is nice. Serving on a task force can be a way for teachers to gain recognition for their work and contributions to the profession. This recognition can help enhance career prospects and open up new opportunities.

Acknowledging that you will have to act swiftly, SHAPE America is currently accepting applications through October 15th for the following leadership opportunities:

EDI Committee: This committee will research, discuss, and apply best practices in EDI and draw from the advice of experts in the field (including those outside of the actual committee) to recommend changes to SHAPE America’s processes and practices. More details here.

Program Councils: There are 5 program councils. Health Education Council, Physical Activity Council, Physical Education Council, Professional Preparation Council, and Research Council. Each program council advises and makes recommendations to SHAPE America staff and the SHAPE America Board of Directors about appropriate programs, products, and services related to the respective focus areas. They also advise on existing programs, products, services, and activities in relation to SHAPE America’s strategic plan and recommend continuation, revision, or elimination. More details here.

Journal Reviewer: Serving as a reviewer for SHAPE America’s flagship journals, JOPERD, and Strategies, the qualified professionals who serve as reviewers work together with the author and editor to achieve excellence in publishing. More details here.

Publications Committee: This committee helps develop, review, and recommend topics, titles, proposals, partnerships, and collaborative projects for publications that align with SHAPE America’s mission to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance, and sport. More details here.

Other volunteer opportunities include the following.

Emerging Leaders Innovation Team: Provides emerging leaders an opportunity to contribute to the health and physical education community as volunteer leaders. They also help develop content (such as blogs, podcasts, and other resources), engage at conferences or SHAPE-sponsored events, and contribute meaningfully to developing SHAPE America’s professional development offerings.

The National Health Education Standards Task Force: This task force is revising the National Health Education Standards (NHES) due to be launched at the 2024 SHAPE America National Convention & Expo in Cleveland (March 12-16).

The National Physical Education Standards Task Force: This task force is revising the National PE Standards, and they, too, will launch these standards at the 2024 SHAPE America National Convention & Expo in Cleveland (March 12-16).

Special Interest Groups (SIGs):  These groups allow members with similar interests and professional specialties to stay current on key health and physical education areas.

SEL Task Force: Provides the field with resources for incorporating SEL within skills-based health (SBHE) and physical education.

Please consider applying for one of the volunteer leadership opportunities mentioned above. You’ll meet new colleagues, forge valuable and lasting relationships, and make a difference on the key issues affecting health and physical educators.

Pair this blog post with the following:

From Back Row to Center Stage by Matt Hagedorn

Early Educator Leadership: Navigating Crabs in a Bucket by Jim Davis

Full Time Health Educator, Part Time Mayor by  Izzy Gogarty

Have you read the latest Book of the Month recommendation?