Colorful Cottonwood Elementary physical education teacher honored

WASILLA — Laurie Ethridge lives her life basking in colors, sharing her vibrant energy and permeating joy with each and every student, staff member and parent at Cottonwood Elementary School.

“I’m kind of known for my energy and enthusiasm,” Ethridge said with a laugh.

Ethridge has a way of getting her students to move around. She has a knack for making exercise fun and instilling lifelong, healthy habits. Those are some of the main reasons why the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Alaska selected her as this year’s Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

“I want to be in the Valley, I want to be in P.E. I was really honored to get this award. I didn’t expect it… I think we all work really hard. I’m so fortunate the school supports me so much,” Ethridge said.

Cottonwood Elementary School principal Lisa Vrvilo nominated Ethridge for the award.

“Mrs. Ethridge is great at making connections for students as to why they are working their bodies so hard as she builds a strong case for life long healthy fitness,” Vrvilo stated in a recent press release.

Ethridge said that getting proper exercise plays a vital role in growing children’s development, education and overall wellbeing.

“This is their time to come in here, have fun. Research says they need to move and it helps their brains learn better when they get back to class… They need that outlet,” Ethridge said.

There’s a checklist of physical milestones and abilities kids need to check off before they enter middle school, according to Ethridge. She said this is the time of their life to establish a mind for fitness and healthy habits that carry over into adolescence.

Ethridge said that she makes it a point to reach every kid, even the ones who aren’t competitive. Her classes go through a spectrum of activities, from dancing to obstacle courses. If a kid gravitates toward a particular activity, she encourages them to go for it.

She said her approach pays off because each school day, her students come to her class beaming with excitement, wondering what she has in store.

“The best thing is, when they line up and they look at me like, “what are we doing today?” It’s Disney World, and it’s the most exciting, fun thing ever. They’re so cute,” Ethridge said.

Ethridge holds a Color Craze each year, inviting her students, their families and numerous others from the community to run around the school grounds, getting peppered with colorful powder. She said it’s an effective way to get the families involved.

“That gets a lot of the families here,” Ethridge said.

The powder used during the Color Craze is somewhat similar powder used during Holi (a.k.a. the “festival of colors”), a popular ancient Hindu festival. By the end of the event, attendees walk out of the school caked with assorted colors.

“I get the local high school kids to come be the throwers, so the moms and dads can be with their kids. So, it makes it a great experience because they just get messy, just a mess; and they love it,” Ethridge said.

Cory Crane, has three children in Ethridge’s P.E. class. He provided a testimonial in light of her nomination.

“Coming to work every day and doing what is expected makes anyone good at their job. What sets Mrs. Ethridge apart is that this is very clearly more than a job. As Physical Education teachers go I have never seen her equal in love, compassion and enthusiasm. As a public servant she makes her community better for being a part of it,” Crane stated in the press release.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com