“That sounds horrible. Why would you ever want to do that?” This is  a response from colleagues on more than one occasion when I share that I am presenting at a state or national PE/Health conference. To be honest, there might have been a time where I would have said the same thing to someone else. Looking back at my career as an Adapted PE teacher, serving on various state level committees who highly encourage attending and presenting at the conferences and then ultimately being selected as a SHAPE America National Teacher of the Year, I thought maybe I would share my experience in how I got to where I am presenting today. There might be someone reading today who is just on the verge of choosing to present, but needs encouragement to submit a proposal. So I want to share with you my story. Why do I present?

Well, there was a time when I needed a swift kick in the pants to believe in myself to stand in front of people and share what I’m passionate about. Now you have to get the “hook” and take my microphone away because I just like talking to others so much. Here are seven reasons why presenting at conferences and conventions has grown me as a teacher and a human being.

“Find the ONE THING.” 

When I first started serving on the MNDAPE leadership team as a region representative, I had never presented a session at any conference ever in my life. After we met to put together sessions, members were encouraged to present even if they had never done it before. I was so uncomfortable thinking about how I would have to pull something together. I started to think about one thing I felt I was good at teaching students of all abilities with my students and that was striking with a racquet. I went to my equipment closet and looked at what I could bring. When the time came to present I went all out with no regrets. While I brought too much equipment, I was prepared and the session went well.  I realized that day, the things that I do everyday for my students can actually help other teachers with their students. Teachers can take something from my session to immediately help them the next week in school.After my first presentation, when one of the other committee members asked me how it went, I told her it went awesome and I have never felt so alive. I was hooked. After a conference presentation later in the year, someone (who is now a close friend)  came up to me and literally told me, “Jen Heebink, what you do needs to be shared.” And this is what fuels me. What is one thing you know you are good at or are passionate about?

“Present for you.”

Some of us need to light up the passion in what we do again. Presenting is one of those things that will move us because we have to go outside our comfort zone. I didn’t necessarily like the idea of presenting, but I came out of it on fire for sharing with others because I took one step forward. Some of us need to be challenged with something different to light us up and fill our buckets. Presenting does that for many of us and it does that for me.

“Present for your students.”

My students deserve the best. Sometimes when I present, the collaboration of ideas that come out of your own session actually help my own students. In more than one session, I’ve had people share their own equipment or activity ideas that I’ve immediately been able to implement. Present for your students.

“Present for your colleagues.”

Your colleagues who come to professional development are hungry for what you have to say. Some of them are energized, some of them are burnt out, but all of them might literally need one little nugget you say or share and it might turn their whole year around. I know because this has happened to me.

“Find something you don’t know about, research it, test it with your students and present it to the world.”

This is another less traditional way to go about presenting but it has happened to me. Once we were low on presenters for a conference so someone called and asked if I could just do a simple session on “DAPE (APE in MN) in Small Spaces.” I said yes, but secretly gulped. I teach APE in larger spaces. HA! I had to do some research to see what worked with my students and with other teachers in small spaces and test it on my own students before I presented. You know what? I am now a rock star at teaching in small spaces. I did it! I definitely had to work more on my confidence in activities for this one. Sometimes this one takes years but can be a project of passion for your profession.

“Present to find connection and purpose.”

Presenting allows you connect with other teachers who share your passion for teaching. When presenting to others, your connection to both yourself, your profession and each other grow. Currently, my web of support now spans  across the country because I said YES way back then to the first time I presented. Finding teachers on Twitter/X and connecting with them in real life is such an awesome experience. I am so fortunate to have gone through the Teacher of the Year process starting in 2019. I was not selected the first time. But in 2020 when the world was falling apart I was selected as 2020 MNSHAPE Adapted PE Teacher of the Year (TOY), 2022 SHAPE America Central District APE TOY and 2022 SHAPE America National APE TOY. When you become a district TOY, you become part of a special family. We present together, see each other at conferences and it becomes a family reunion every time. My APE TOY sisters are super special to me. Every time I present, I fall more in love with what I do as an APE teacher. I connect to other people, my profession, and remember that I would not want to do anything else. We teach better when we are better connected to others and plugged into what is happening in our profession.

“Present because what you find on the other end may surprise you.”

I never in a million years would have expected my life to look like this. In November 2023, I delivered my first keynote address at the National Adapted PE Conference (NAPEC) in California and came out with another keynote offer for the following year.  I’ve presented with MNDAPE, MNSHAPE, New York, California, and Seattle (What state will be next?!) 

OK… WHAT?! Me as a 2010 fresh rookie teacher would have taken a hard pass on those opportunities. But I can tell you with confidence that, after all the sessions I have presented and then that keynote, I think I’m addicted to storytelling in our field.When we tell stories we connect deeply and lives are impacted. I have the support to get through the tough times and problem solve when I don’t have an answer. 

So what do you think? Are you going to give presenting a try? Or are you a seasoned veteran presenter? Share this microblog and why you present! 

This microblog post was a featured post in #slowchathealth’s #microblogmonth event. You can search for all of the featured posts here. Please do follow each of the outstanding contributors on social media (including 2022 SHAPE America National Adapted PE Teacher of the Year Jen Heebink, the author of this post) and consider writing a microblog post of your own to be shared with the global audience of slowchathealth.com

Pair this blog post with the following:

My Why by Charlie Rizzuto

5 Reasons Why I’m Pursuing My PhD by Lisa Paulson

Why I Podcast by Nathan Walker

Summer Learning: 9 Conferences to Enhance Your Health & PE Teaching by Andy Milne

Have you read the latest Book of the Month recommendation?