Physical Education class can carry a stigma of being intimidating or dull, but Conor Donovan aims to change that. As the new PE teacher at George Grant Mason, his goal is to create a dynamic and inclusive environment where every student, regardless of athletic ability, can enjoy movement, build confidence, and develop lifelong skills. “Gym class can get a bad rap, but I want to turn that around,” Donovan says. “I want every student to feel like they belong, to enjoy themselves, and to leave class feeling good about what they accomplished.”
At the heart of Donovan’s teaching philosophy is the belief that gym class should be about more than just sports. “I understand that not everyone is going to love sports or be good at them,” he explains. “One of the most important skills in life is communication. By working in teams and learning to collaborate, students develop those skills, which will help them in any career they choose.”
To keep students interested, Donovan structures his physical education classes with variety. Instead of repeating the same activities week after week, he introduces new units every month and gives students choices and challenges, keeping students motivated and allowing them to discover new interests.
More than anything, Donovan thrives on seeing students happy and engaged. He says that when students come in smiling and with a positive attitude, he knows class is going to go well. “When they’re happy, I’m happy.”
Donovan has been impressed by the sense of community at the Tuxedo Union Free School District. “What I’ve noticed here is that if one student is feeling down, a classmate always steps in to cheer them up.” That isn’t always the case, he explains. “At other schools I’ve been at, I didn’t see that as much. I think because GGM is a smaller school and students have been together for so long, they’re really connected.”
Building relationships with his students is a priority for Donovan. He makes an effort to learn their interests, ask questions, and observe how they interact. “The smaller class sizes here have really helped me get to know each student quickly,” he notes. His ultimate goal? To ensure that when students look back on their elementary gym experience, they remember it as fun, positive, and welcoming.