The Essentials of Teaching Health Education

Sarah Sparrow Benes, EdD, CHES, received her EdD in curriculum and teaching from Boston University, her EdM in human movement from Boston University, and her BS in athletic training from the University of Connecticut. She is on track to earn her master’s degree in public health in 2021. Sarah worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and an assistant athletic trainer at Boston University before transitioning to teaching full time and running the physical education and health education programs for six years. Dr. Benes is now at Merrimack College as an associate clinical professor in the School of Health Sciences. She has taught a range of courses, including curriculum and teaching methods, student teaching practicums, health education for elementary educators, health behavior theory, and introduction to public health. Dr. Benes developed and led the first short-term study abroad course in the School of Health Sciences, taking students to Scotland as part of a course comparing public health in the United States and abroad. Dr. Benes’ research interests include skills-based health education, physical activity in the classroom, and enhancing school-based physical education and health education programming. Dr. Benes is currently on the board of SHAPE America and she has served as chair of the Health Education Council of SHAPE America. She has done curriculum development with many districts in Massachusetts, has conducted skills-based health education professional development across the country and internationally, and has written many health education presentations and publications. She currently lives in Natick, Massachusetts, with her husband, two daughters, and a yellow lab. She enjoys reading, hiking, and going on adventures with her family.

Holly Alperin, EdM, MCHES, has over 20 years of experience in both public health and education. She holds an EdM in policy, planning, and administration from Boston University and a BS in health education and health promotion from Central Michigan University. She has the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) designation. Currently, at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) she is a faculty member in the department of kinesiology’s health and physical education teacher preparation program. Prior to UNH, she worked for 16 years with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in a variety of roles that supported schools’ efforts to strengthen policies, increase capacity around school health programs and school nutrition programs, and improve professional development for educators. Through work at the local, state, national, and international levels, she supports the implementation of a skills-based health education program and collaborates with schools and communities as they create a culture of health and well-being for all young people. Ms. Alperin’s research interests include skills-based health education, creating a culture of health and well-being in schools that ensures safe and equitable health education experiences, and enhancing school-based physical education and health education programming. Ms. Alperin currently serves in a variety of volunteer roles, including a member of the Publications Committee and Health Education Council for SHAPE America, and she is the past vice president of health education for the New Hampshire Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She lives in Atkinson, New Hampshire, with her husband and two daughters. In her free time, she enjoys the beach, outdoor adventures, skiing with her family, and taking time to enjoy a good book.