'It’s amazing what you can achieve': Knik Charter School opens new fitness center

It is widely known that physical fitness has many benefits for students including improved mental health, widening their social circles, improved sleep, and building stronger bones and muscles. Physical fitness can also reduce anxiety and depression, as well as reduce the risk of developing health conditions like heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Physical activity can also improve student academic performance, especially in reading and math. This is because physical activity improves executive function, which is linked to brain health and academic performance. On Monday, the students at Knik Charter School received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to increase their physical activity as they helped cut the ribbon on a brand new fitness center.

Knik Charter School was one of three schools in Alaska to receive a new fitness center as part of a mission to increase the health and fitness of students across all 50 states, and was made possible through the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) and the DON’T QUIT! Fitness campaign.

“Each year, we choose four states, and this year I called your Governor, and I am just excited for this school,” said NFGFC chairman Jake Steinfeld, who was on hand to help cut the ribbon on the new fitness center with Governor Mike Dunleavy.

Steinfeld said one of the things that really impressed him about Knik Charter School was the amount of tech the students were able to study.

“I love the fact that they’re very heavily into tech, and yet had no fitness center., and it was really interesting to see that they were saying the tech thing is awesome, AI is great, 3D computers are great, and drones are cool, but we need to build confidence and self-esteem and be healthy,” Steinfeld said. And even though he said he does not participate in the choosing of the winning schools, he does watch the videos after the fact and was moved by what he saw from Knik Charter School.

Steinfeld relayed a story of how physical fitness improved his own life, sharing that he was an overweight child with a stutter.

“I remember it was super hard for me when a teacher asked me to get up and read out loud in class. I could read, but I got so nervous and had this really bad stutter, that it got harder and harder. And my friends would laugh, and I would get more nervous and uptight, and became really quiet.” Steinfeld said that when his father bought him a set of weights, he began to not only build up his body, but also his own self-esteem.

“When I started to exercise, I started to stand a little straighter. I had this confidence and self-esteem, and when you have that, it’s amazing what you can achieve.”

Principal Tyler Gilligan said that last year, he identified a few areas that could increase student achievement-limiting screen time, reduce cellphone usage in the classroom, and increase physical activity. “We want all of our students, K-12, receiving physical education and getting fitness built into their lives now…that can carry them through their entire life.” The fitness center, along with Health classes and other special programs will help Gilligan and his staff achieve the goals of increasing students’ physical activity.

When he came across the opportunity from the NFGFC, he coordinated with then-PE teacher Jacob Myerly and they put together a video entry, one of 36 schools from across Alaska that took part in the contest. Gilligan said he knew that his school was a long shot to receive a fitness center, but also had a number of positives going for them.

“One, there is a lot of momentum behind charter schools in our state. Two, we’re a new school and this is a big need. Start-up schools need a lot of support…and I think being so unique and having the cultural aspect of Knik Charter School, we really had three things going for us, and it worked out.”

Steinfeld had a simple message for the students-get your bodies moving. “It’s not just about building bodies, but confidence and self-esteem.” He said that exercise is the most underutilized anti-depressant that’s available to everyone.

“If you’ve never exercised before, this is going to be really fun.” He asked that students try the equipment once, doing one rep, which would lead to another and another. “Then all the sudden, you start to say ‘I can do this. If I can do this, what else can I achieve in my life?’”

Governor Mike Dunleavy said education is not just about great minds, but also strong bodies. “You need to have a great body to carry a great mind.” He also praised Knik Charter School, the principal and the parent committee, and Alaska Charter schools in general.

“Alaska’s Charter Schools, including yours, scores better than any charter school system in the country…you should be very proud of yourselves.” The Governor thanked the parents for sending their children to Knik Charter and

In his 13th year as chairman for the NFGFC, Steinfeld said he was excited to be in Alaska as part of his farewell tour as his mission to get a fitness center into schools in all 50 states is nearing an end. Alaska is the 47th state to receive a fitness center, with Hawaii, Nevada, and New York rounding out the complete list. He anticipates in New York on October 4.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, but I still get so pumped up walking in and seeing this.”

Knik Charter School has only been open for three years and offers a unique opportunity for students K-12 to be in an environment accepting of all cultures and teach Alaska Native and American Indian children. The school partners with the Knik Tribe to offer the STEAM Academy for 6-12 grades, which offers courses in computer programming, construction, drones, and subsistence.

“What we do is we utilize the district adopted curriculum and infuse it with cultural practices,” says Gilligan, adding “We really try to teach people what it is to be Alaskan and make everybody feel accepted here.”

Gilligan says the new fitness center will be incorporated for students 6th through 12th grades though he is also looking at how to expand in the future.

“I would like to expand that before or after school as well for those kids who might not be able to get into the fitness center during the day, they have the opportunity to do it before or after school.”

The fitness centers are made possible through public/private partnerships with companies such as The Coca-Cola Company, Amerigroup Foundation, Wheels Up and Nike, and does not rely on tax payer dollars or state funding. Fit Supply provides the fitness equipment.