By Daily Press staff
Lincoln Middle School phy-ed teacher, Mary Hirt, has been named middle school teacher of the year.
She received the National Physical Education Teacher of the Year for the middle school level by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education at its annual national convention in Philadelphia on April 4.
The honor goes to the elite in the physical activity, physical education and sports professions. The National Physical Educator of the Year Award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching performance and the ability to motivate today’s youth to participate in a lifetime of physical activity.
Hirt is a native of Santa Monica and attended Santa Monica-Malibu public schools: Will Rogers Elementary, John Adams Middle School and Santa Monica High School. She decided to become a teacher because she knew she could make a positive difference in children’s lives by teaching physical education, school officials said.
In 2002, Hirt was awarded the California Outstanding Physical Education Educator of the Year by the State of California Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Hirt was awarded the 2003 American Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Southwest District Physical Education Teacher of the Year.
In addition to teaching phy-ed at Lincoln Middle School and serving as chair of the Physical Education Department for 12 years, Hirt is a professor in kinesiology at California State University at Northridge, a physical education consultant and a presenter at many workshops and conferences. She has been recognized for her outstanding teaching in physical education through the Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Educator Award program and by her local PTSA as Teacher of the Year.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 14, 2003. Read the original PDF.