Hopefully, PE professionals will continue to strive to create positive environments for our fitness and physical education classes. I applaud the metaphoric overtones contained in the article. Apparently, she is beyond her years as far as having insight and wisdom about our youth. Making emotional connections and building relationships with high-risk students is essential when trying to provide guidance and instruction. As Alisha mentioned, not just going through the motions, but following up with whatever support the child needs or asks for.
Specialist time is the classroom teacher's planning time.
I work in the Issaquah School District and we hire certified PE specialists whenever possible. This year we did have to hire a person who did not have PE certification because there were no qualified PE specialists available due to the teacher shortage. There are no yearly requirements. I just had to apply for my recertification this past June and even though I have my master's degree.