Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SHAPE America Announces Task Force to Revise National Health Education Standards
RESTON, VA, September 16, 2021 — SHAPE America ‒ Society of Health and Physical Educators today launched the National Health Education Standards Task Force, with members who represent diverse stakeholders in school-based health education including leading national health education organizations, state departments of education, university health education teacher education (HETE) programs, and K-12 practitioners.
The task force will be responsible for revising the National Health Education Standards. SHAPE America —
the nation’s largest organization serving and representing school-based health education professionals —
obtained the copyright to the National Health Education Standards in 2020 when its longtime partner the
American Cancer Society (the previous copyright holder) divested from the school health space.
“The National Health Education Standards have, and always will be, the nation’s standards, upon which all
health education curriculum should be based,” says SHAPE America CEO Stephanie Morris. “Once we publish
the revised standards, they will be free and accessible to all who wish to use them, reference them, or
develop relevant resources that include them.”
The National Health Education Standards Task Force includes the following members:
Nadine Marchessault, MEd, NBCT, Co-Chair, Health
Education
Specialist, Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Sarah Toth, PhD, MEd, MCHES®, Co-Chair,
Assistant Professor of Health Science, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Holly Alperin, EdM, MCHES, Program Coordinator &
Clinical
Assistant Professor, Health and Physical Education, University of New Hampshire
Angela Beale-Tawfeeq, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor,
Rowan
University, New Jersey
Laurie Bechhofer, MPH, FASHA, HIV/STD Education Consultant, Michigan
Department of Education
Mary Connolly, Senior Faculty and Program Chair, Skills
Based Health/Social Emotional Learning Program, Cambridge College, Massachusetts
Nana Donkor, MSEd, Health Education Instructional
Supervisor, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland
Angela Glymph, PhD, Vice President of Programs and
Strategic Learning, Peer Health Exchange
Jamie Hurley, Health and Physical Education Principal
Consultant, Colorado Department of Education
Michelle Ireland, MA, MCHES®, Health
Education
Teacher, Hanover Public Schools, Massachusetts
Brittany McBride, MPH, Associate Director, Sex
Education,
Advocates for Youth
Susana Mercado, Health Education Practitioner
Kaulana Molina, MS, NBCT, Health Education Practitioner,
Hawaiʻi
Jessica Napier, Health Education Practitioner/Assistant
Principal, Kentucky
Amanda Nichols, MEd, Lead Professional Learning
Facilitator, RMC Health
Lisa K. Perry, MEd, Senior National Advisor, Alliance
for
a Healthier Generation
Kandice Porter, PhD, MCHES®, Professor of
Health
Promotion, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
Tilsa Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Supervisor of Health and
Physical Education, City School District of New Rochelle, New York
Andrew Snyder, MAT, Education Programs Professional for
Health, Physical Education and STEM, Nevada Department of Education
Erin N. Sweeney, PhD, MEd, MCHES®, Assistant
Professor, Health and Physical Education Program, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Leigh Szucs, PhD, CHES, Health Scientist, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
During the revision process, the National Health Education Standards Task Force will seek and welcome
review and feedback from all organizations in the health education space. Once the National Health
Education Standards are revised, SHAPE America will oversee a comprehensive, strategic implementation plan
in close partnership with the organization’s 51 state affiliates, national health education partners, and
supervisors of health education curriculum at the district level and at state departments of education.
Learn more about the National Health Education Standards at shapeamerica.org/standards/health.
###
About SHAPE America
SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators serves as the voice for 200,000+ health and
physical education professionals across the United States. The organization’s community includes a
diverse membership of health and physical educators, as well as advocates, supporters, and 50+ state
affiliate organizations.
Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in physical education. For decades,
SHAPE America’s National Standards for K-12 Physical Education
have served as the foundation for
well-designed physical education programs across the country. Additionally, the organization helped
develop and owns the National Health Education
Standards.
For more information, visit www.shapeamerica.org.
Follow SHAPE America on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.