NEISD holds first WINLI event, great success

North East ISD's Physical Education & Health Department hosted its first Wellnes in NEISD Leadership Institute (WINLI) on September 20-21, 2011 at Piper Bass Student Center at Blossom Athletic Center. More than 150 members from each of the district's 64 campuses' wellness teams were present along with NEISD's Executive Staff, Board Member Susan Galindo and special guests.

WINLI featured many engaging and inspiring speakers such as Dr. Brian Gottardy, Superintendent; Rachel Naylor, Director for Physical Education & Health; Marissa Rathbone, Director of School Health - Texas Education Agency; Carey Dabney, Texas PTA Healthy Lifestyles Chair; Meg Domas, Executive Director for Nutrition Services; Frances Gonzalez, Assistant to Mayor Castro; Scott Bodnar, Vice President - Active Life; Mary Ullman Japhet, Associate Executive Director for External Affairs - San Antonio Sports; Shannon Hernandez, Manager of Communications and Culture - H-E-B; Nicole Franco, Assistant Principal - Churchill High School; Brenda Shelton, Principal - Tejeda Middle School; Christopher Thompson, Principal - Madison High School; Katherine Velasquez, RN, PhD, Senior Management - Metro Health; Jean Synodinos, Professional Speaker/Communications Specialist/Songwriter; and Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

Attendees learned new ideas and initiatives to implement on their own campuses regarding health and wellness, physical activity, nutrition, and family/community engagement. Other than creating awareness of the many health-realted issues the community and students face, another goal of the program is to create change in the lifestyles of these individuals so that they can lead healthy, productive lives.

Some of the facts shared at WINLI to remind everyone "Why are we here" stated:

• In NEISD, 29 percent of elementary age girls and boys have BMI’s that place them in the high risk category.

• Only 77 percent of NEISD high school students are able to pass all six fitness tests.

• About 3,600 students can’t do more than one push up or run up and down a volleyball size court more than 20 times without getting tired or giving up.
  

• In 1990, among states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 10 states had a prevalence of obesity less than 10 percent and no state had prevalence equal to or greater than 15 percent.

• By 2000, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 10 percent, 23 states had a prevalence between 20–24 percent, and no state had prevalence equal to or greater than 25 percent.

• In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20 percent. 36 states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25 percent; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence equal to or greater than 30 percent.

WINLI was made possible through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant, which in September 2010 NEISD received word it would be awarded over the course of 3 years. Over the past year, various aspects of the grant have been implemented to include fitness centers at each high school. One goal of the grant is to provide staff development to all NEISD campuses on how to create sustainable, coordinated school health programs.

There will be four WINLI Institutes over the next two years - one in the fall and one in the spring of each school year. The focus for this institute is to celebrate the district's accomplishments and learn from the district's partners, such as H-E-B, San Antonio Sports, Metro Health, Mayor's Fitness Council, and NEISD's Nutrition Services Department - the resources that are readily available to all NEISD campuses and the community.

 

Posted on Sept. 23, 2011