By Carolyn Seaton, Executive Director of Human Resources, MBUSD
We are thrilled to welcome our new team of Certificated Physical Education Teachers. It is important to note that PE teacher time is distributed based on the number of students in grades 1-5 at each school. All students in grades 1-5 will receive 100 minutes of Physical Education each week with these wonderful teachers.
Welcome to Noah Arnold our new physical education teacher working 60% at Meadows and 40% at MBMS. Noah graduated from Trinity International University in Chicago with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education K-12. He possesses credentials to teach Physical Education K-12 in the states of California, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and he is extremely happy to join our MBUSD family.
Noah believes that each student in his physical education classes should be considered a unique individual who needs a secure, fun, stimulating, and caring atmosphere in which to grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. He wants each and every one of his students to reach his or her full potential in all these areas by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk taking, and invites students to share their ideas.
Noah’s hobbies outside of work include running, working out, surfing, playing the guitar, involvement with non-profit youth activities, and spending time with his wife and daughter.
New Robinson physical education teacher Doug Branim is thoroughly enjoying working with the students and staff at Robinson. Doug earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. Prior to joining the MBUSD family, Doug taught physical education in Florida for 15 years. He is enjoying our Manhattan Beach weather and teaching so close to the beach.
Doug’s philosophy of teaching physical education is to promote physical fitness by providing students with a safe and exciting learning environment. His hobbies outside of work include traveling and spending time with his family.
Ryan Newman is the new physical education teacher at Pennekamp. Ryan graduated from Concordia University in Irvine in 2012 with a degree in Business Administration. After graduation he worked at a gym in San Diego. He soon realized that what he really wanted to do was teach physical education, so he attended Azusa Pacific University in 2013 to obtain his Physical Education teaching credential. Last year Ryan student taught at Warner Middle School in Westminster.
His philosophy regarding physical education is to teach his students healthy habits that will help them live long and happy lives. Outside of work, Ryan loves to travel and play as many golf courses as possible. He also loves to play basketball. Ryan was born in Omaha, Nebraska, so he is a huge Nebraska Cornhuskers football fan. Go Big Red!
Welcome back to elementary physical education, Theresa Tower. Theresa is Pacific’s physical education teacher. She fell in love with teaching elementary physical education 25 years ago. She has also taught P.E. at MBMS, MCHS, and in the Cal State University system. Theresa started Costa’s highly successful and popular yoga physical education program.
Theresa is a National Board Certified teacher and earned her Master’s Degree in pedagogy. Her philosophy of physical education is that students need to have fun, stay safe, be respectful, and have the opportunity to play and learn in a non-threatening environment. When not working with her Pacific Panthers, Ms. Tower enjoys being a mom, wife, realtor, paddler, surfer, biker, and skier. She is usually easy to recognize in her trademark cowboy hat.
Welcome back to Grand View, Monica Wood! For close to twenty years, Ms. Wood has taught thousands of children the joys of play, movement, and sports. A Redondo Beach native, Monica earned her B.A. in Physical Education with an emphasis on teaching at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Later she earned her M.A. in Education from Loyola Marymount University. Go Lions!
She believes deeply in the power of play, not only for the lifelong physical advantages, but also for the immediate social benefits. She treats all of her students with fairness, respect, and caring and creates an inclusive, non-competitive environment for learning. While teaching her students the physical education curriculum, Monica skillfully integrates life lessons. She sets high expectations for student behavior and sportsmanship.
Monica’s passions, other than teaching, include writing, stand-up paddleboarding, real estate, pool workouts, and learning. She is a self-proclaimed “sports nut” who has traveled to 35 states in one summer to visit a variety of sports landmarks and venues. She particularly loves the Dodgers, Kings, Lakers, and Pittsburgh Steelers though she enjoys pretty much any sport. Her bucket list includes thanking Vin Scully in person for filling her house with decades of eloquent Dodger memories and attending a Super Bowl game, even if her Steelers are not playing. She is grateful to have the opportunity to return to Grand View and rebuild a program based on respect, fun, sportsmanship, and self-improvement.
Thank you to our community, and MBUSD for assuring our schools are P.E.: Positively Excellent!
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