Editor’s note: To read profiles of all 2015-2016 Blackboard Awards honorees, click HERE!
Diane DiTonno-Gilhuley
Physical Education
P.S. 107
Tell us about some of the special joys and challenges you’ve experienced as a teacher.
I am currently the PE teacher at P.S. 107 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Although I started out teaching in District 75 for a couple of years, I transitioned into District 15 (in fact, the neighborhood I grew up in) and P.S. 107, first in special ed, then as a first-grade classroom teacher, and finally my true calling as a PE teacher. My classroom is unique as it is either the drill floor at the Park Slope Armory (140,000 square-foot facility) or the pool at the Prospect Park YMCA. Building trust has been the key to success in both places. Along with Y swim instructors and parent volunteers, I have implemented the second-grade swim program for the past eight years. I am in the pool with each second-grade class teaching, supporting, and nurturing them as they face fears of water, learn to swim, or progress from hesitant to strong swimmers. I have helped kids who have refused to go in the water jump off the deep end by the end of the year. I am proud to say our program has taught over 700 kids to swim (some of whom are the first in their families) through patience, encouragement, modelling and, at times, one-on-one personal instruction.
In the Armory, I not only teach the kids sports–rules, positions, skills–I also teach them confidence, endurance, and effort. I have watched kids who did not believe in themselves or who had trouble in the classroom literally shine from positive encouragement, goal setting, and physical movement in PE. I have piloted and implemented the NYRR Mighty Milers Program – where children run a mile in gym two times per week–for the past seven years with the help of teachers and parents.
I am also the head coach of the P.S. 107 track team, which serves kids in grades K-8 who are either current or former P.S. 107 students. I started the program ten years ago and have over 140 kids on the team. We are a no-cut team, open to all students past and present. As head coach, I have seen kids find running and blossom, and others struggle but always persevere. I have kids who, through hard work and determination, improve their three-mile time from 45 minutes to 25 minutes. I have witnessed kids who never thought they could finish a 5K. I have kids who have a hard time sitting still in classrooms run their hearts out on the track and finally feel good about themselves. Through it all, I strive to teach the kids sportsmanship and effort, the two most important lessons in life.
Additionally, I am the sports director of the afterschool program, which serves the majority of students at P.S. 107 with enrichment opportunities after the school day ends. I oversee the flag football, school yard games, soccer, rugby, fencing, tennis, track, karate, capoeira, and yoga, as well as help coordinate and run the entire afterschool program.
Please share a special project or achievement (or two) that you are particularly proud of from this year.
This year I am enormously proud of my kids on the track team, but there are two girls in particular who stand out. They struggled in PE in first and second grade and eventually found their way to the track team in third grade and, although they ran and enjoyed it, they were not the break-out runners. I have watched and helped these two girls find their strides, find their confidence, and explode this year as fifth graders. They are two of my star runners not only because they have improved their running times so much but also because they have worked so hard to achieve their goal of doing better. Most importantly, they have gone from struggling students in the classroom to academic stars.
Additionally, this year I have brought NYRR Developmental Track & Field and Cross Country series to P.S. 107. These programs feature meets during the school day with other schools in our borough. With the administration, parents, and coaches’ support, I am able to teach kids track and field and give them opportunities to learn about and grow from competition. My students have learned how to run faster, smarter, and better, as well as the shot put, long jump and high jump through group and personal instruction, modelling, videos, and practice. The kids have been able to put these new-found skills to the test in real world environments and excel. This weekend, I brought a team to the Developmental Track & Field Championship at Icahn Stadium at Randall’s Island to compete in the Citywide Championships. Although this is strictly volunteer on my part, I am happy to give up my weekend to see these kids compete and grow.
Over the course of your career, what do you consider one or two of your greatest accomplishments?
The P.S. 107 track team, Mighty Milers at gym, and second-grade swim are my greatest accomplishments. Establishing and implementing these programs has allowed me to make a difference in so many kids’ lives.
What drives you? What keeps you motivated and committed to being a dedicated and hard-working educator?
There is nothing like seeing a child overcome his or her fears and learn to swim. Not only has that child learned the valuable lesson that he or she can do something even if it is scary, it is incredibly satisfying to know that I just might have saved a life.
Every week, I work with all the P.S. 107 students from Kindergarten to grade 5 and watch them build confidence, find things they are good at, find things they are not so good at but want to improve, and have fun. Fun is a key ingredient to learning and sometimes in our hyper-focused world of testing and benchmarks, we forget that kids need to have fun and when they learn best is when they are having fun. Not all my kids love PE, and I get that. I was one of those kids. Growing up, I used to hate gym class. But in high school, I found basketball and it changed my life. I see that happening with these kids. I have some kids who hate running the mile. They are always forgetting their sneakers, but then, little by little, with encouragement, I see them come out of their shell. I see them start talking, walking, and, next thing you know, I have another recruit for the track team. It is truly about the kids. They are my greatest motivator.
Any special advice for parents on how they can best support their children academically at the grade level you teach? And more generally? And how they can have the most productive relationship with their children’s teacher and school?
Get involved! So much of what I do I do not do alone. It is with other teachers, the administration, coaches, and, most importantly, parents that I find I am able to have such a significant impact on my students. Parents are an integral part of the programs I have implemented at P.S. 107 and we literally could not do them without the help, support, and dedication of so many parents. Between the pool and the Armory, parent volunteers are welcomed and encouraged, but if you are at a school that does not need as much parent support, then play with your kids. Go for a run or a walk. Throw a ball. Play tag. Jump rope. Ask your kids to teach you what they learned in gym class that day.
And don’t be afraid to ask the school if you can help. We make it very easy to help at P.S. We have a great PTA with a PE committee encouraging people to come and help. Look and see if your school has that. Ask the PTA how you can help. Ask the parent coordinator how you can help. Ask the PE teacher how you can help. Believe me, we want and need help, but remember, if you do come to help, it is about all the kids, not just your own. I think parents get that, although sometimes the kids have a harder time with it, so if you are going to volunteer, make sure you have a talk with your child and tell him or her that Mommy or Daddy is really proud to help but that you have to help all the kids.
And finally, most importantly, remember to have fun!
