KEY POINTS:
Name: Kylie Thompson
Age: 30
Role: Adviser (North) for Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ)
Working hours: 40 hours plus per week
Average pay: $63,000 - $73,000
Qualifications and institution: Bachelor physical education, double major in professional studies and sport & leisure studies at University of Otago
Graduate diploma in teaching at Dunedin College of Education
Describe what you do
My role is to provide strategic advice and leadership to the Auckland and Northland areas on relevant physical education matters. This includes developing resources for teachers' programmes, organising professional development, working with regional sports trusts and outside agencies to ensure consistent messages are given to schools, and discussing physical education curriculum matters with the Ministry of Education or New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). My job takes me all over the place, including schools and sports trusts. Keeping up to date with the initiatives in schools is a large part of my role.
What is PENZ?
PENZ stands for Physical Education New Zealand - Te Ao Kori Aotearoa. It is a professional non-profit organisation focused on advancing the role of physical education here. Our vision is to have all young people physically educated and learning to think critically about physical activity which involves us promoting and supporting quality physical education. So we're helping schools focus on the educational side of PE too, teaching students how to think about and write their own physical activity programmes so they can make their own decisions about physical activity, rather than students that hate running turning up to class and being told to run around the block three times.
Why is this so important? In the past we ran around the block, whether we liked it or not.
Never has there been a time when society has been so obsessed with the body and "fixing" it and, as a consequence, physical education is in danger of been marginalised to fitness training. Yes, it is important that physical education enables students to participate in physical activity and learn skills "in, through and about movement", but it is also important that our young people have the ability to become discerning consumers of a physical activity culture.
Teachers are doing a good job but there is a lot of pressure from society and schools to simply provide 20 minutes fitness a day and call that PE. But PE should also be about learning about activities and values around physical activity, developing team work and having an understanding of how movement occurs in the body before making our own positive decisions about choices of physical activity.
Who do you work with?
Physical education teachers, students, pre-service teacher educators, Ministry of Education, NZQA, Regional sports trusts, regional sports organisations and school support services.
How did you end up in this job?
I never wanted a sit down office job and loved physical education at school. I taught PE at Epsom Girls Grammar for three years, was head of department another two years, then took six months' leave to lecture in physical education at the University of Auckland. I enjoyed working with trainee teachers and saw the position of PENZ adviser as a way to continue supporting the profession and advocating for quality physical education.
What training or experience do you need for the job?
PE degree qualifications, knowledge, expertise and experience in physical education. Facilitation skills are important as is an understanding of the whole sector - including physical education, physical activity, sport and the community.
What skills or qualities do you need?
Initiative and enthusiasm are important. You need strong organisational, communication and presentation skills and a very strong belief in the subject of PE.
Best part of the job?
Having the time to do all the things I thought were important for physical education when I was teaching but was too busy to do them, such as creating resources and advocating for quality physical education. I love working alongside the teachers and seeing the effect a positive physical education culture can have on a school.
Most challenging part?
Trying to get society to understand the huge potential of physical education.
Any interesting projects?
They are many and varied. I have recently been involved in delivering a biomechanical resource to schools throughout the country. We got together with Siliconcoach, a video analysis company, and created a teaching resource on biomechanic interactivity.
Sign of success?
Complete success will come when young people in every school in New Zealand are thinking and learning in physical education - not just doing.
Advice to someone wanting to do the same thing?
Get involved in all aspects of physical education at all levels, become a member of the subject association, keep an eye out for opportunities to involve yourself in physical education at the Ministry of Education and NZQA level and start presenting at workshops and conferences.
