Why did you choose Physical Education as your major?
I was very active in high school, participating in three sports. I loved playing games and being competitive. I always wanted to be an educator. When I was deciding on what area to pursue, it only made sense to me to become a P.E. teacher. I could teach kids while also having a lot of fun by being active.

Who was your favorite childhood teacher and did they influence you?
Mrs. Callahan was my third grade teacher. She was very enthusiastic in the classroom. She always had a smile on her face and made school a lot of fun. We did a lot of exciting projects. Each year I still hang up a Christmas ornament we made in math class on my family tree!!

Who is the biggest influence in your personal life?
My biggest influence would have to be my father, John Tyree. He has taught 8th grade math for over 30 years. He was my teacher and my coach throughout my athletic career. Having your dad as a coach and a teacher can be tough but he has shown me how much hard work and dedication can pay off in your life. His enthusiasm in the classroom is very inspiring as well. He showed me you can teach people while also having fun and enjoying your job.

Why did you pick USI?
My sister attended USI. I came down to visit her and the campus often. My sister always had such positive things to say about the university and really enjoyed her experience during her time at USI. I loved the set-up of USI. The school was not too big but not too small. I loved the apartment style dorms. I felt very comfortable when I came to visit when searching for a college and decided USI would be my new home for the next four years.

What did you like the best about USI?
Aside from the apartment style dorms, the environment was probably one of the best things I liked about USI. The staff was always willing to assist you with whatever you needed. Most students were friendly and helpful as well. There was a lot of hard work involved in my four years but the surroundings of USI made it a lot of fun and helped me feel very comfortable.

What activities did you participate in at USI to give you a more well-rounded college experience?
And what did you participate in for fun? What did you learn from these organizations/activities? I participated in different intramural sports like volleyball and basketball. I even played in a euchre tournament but I didn’t last long! I was a member of the Student Education Association and the Exercise Science and Physical Education Club (E.S.P.E.). Participating in the E.S.P.E. club had some very valuable lessons. I was on the board that helped start the club and presided as President for one year as well. Seeing all of our hard work pay off to create a fun organization was very inspiring. The club gave students a chance to get to know one another personally, network with outside professionals in the physical education and exercise science field, and gave you opportunities to enjoy physical activities with other students in your field.

What was your favorite class?
One of my favorite classes was Adaptive P.E. We had field experiences at different schools where we got to work with special education students in the gym. We did an evening of volleyball with some of the students. We taught them how to serve and play modified games of volleyball. It was so neat to see their enthusiasm and delight in the successes they had in the gym.

What was your first job as a teacher?
My first job was teaching sixth grade math in my hometown of Mitchell, Indiana.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as a teacher?
I was going over the rules for the floor hockey games we were going to play in class. Our hockey sticks are kept in an empty, rolling garbage can. I turned around to grab the bucket and the blades of the sticks were closer than I realized. I ended up smacking my head in front of the entire class. They died laughing because I had just covered safety and how important it was going to be during our games!!!

What inspires you as an educator?
Inspiration as an educator for me comes from the students. Seeing someone be successful during a game or activity and see the reaction on their face is very rewarding. When they have that “aha” moment where they execute a skill or finally understand what you have been trying to get across to them is very rewarding.

What has changed the most about teaching PE since you were a student participating in PE?
I think there have been both positive and negative changes. There are a lot more inactive students in classroom these days and kids who have no interest in doing any type of activity in school. On the positive side, there is a lot more focus on fitness and lifetime activities. This allows students to get exposed to activities that will not only keep them healthy but things that they can enjoy throughout the rest of their life.

What other activities are you involved in with your school?
I coach the seventh grade volleyball team and am getting ready to be an assistant track coach for both boys and girls shot put and discus.

What is your dream job as an educator? What is your dream job?
My dream job as an educator would be to teach at the college level. I would love to teach P.E. courses and teach students how to have fun in the classroom while also teaching them good activities that they can teach their own students.

If you had an unlimited supply of money, what would you change about physical education and how it is taught?
With an unlimited supply of money, I would be able to have all the equipment I would ever need. There would be enough for all students to be able to participate at the same time and not have to wait. Everyone could be active all the time. I would also want to create a fitness facility type of environment for the students. I would be able to buy a wide variety of fitness equipment like ellipticals, bikes, and treadmills to teach kids how to be active. I would focus more on lifetime sports as well so kids can learn how to be active and stay healthy.