Leander ISD trustees recognized Brenda Edwards, Canyon Ridge Middle School athletic coordinator and health and PE teacher, for earning the 2016 Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Champion award. The award was given to six recipients from across the state for their work in a school, district or in the community. The board recognized Edwards (in the middle) in September.
By KIM ESTES, Four Points News
Brenda Edwards, Canyon Ridge Middle School athletic coordinator and health and physical education teacher, was one of six others from around the state recognized with an award on Dec. 1 for helping children develop healthy habits.
“I am very honored to be a 2016 CATCH Champion,” Edwards said.
At Moody Gardens Hotel in Galveston, Edwards was presented the Coordinated Approach to Child Health award by CATCH, which aims to impact messaging a child receives regarding lifelong health choices.
“I have been using the program in my P.E. classes for the last 15 years,” Edwards said. “I like it because it involves so many different lessons to help teach students the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition, physical activity and making good healthy choices are some of the key components of CATCH.”
Edwards has been teaching for 26 years and was a charter CRMS faculty member when the school opened in 2004. “I am one of the original CRMS Eagles,” she noted.
And while “thousands” of students have sat through her classes, she does not sound overwhelmed by her task. “I love my job. I enjoy teaching students the importance of fitness and making healthy choices,” Edwards said.
Edwards also praised CRMS principal, Susan Sullivan. “She is a key component in making our school the best place to work in the district. She supports CATCH and all the activities that we do.
“I also work with the best group of P.E. teachers in Leander ISD, and they are all part of the reason CRMS is a CATCH Champion school,” she added.
According to the CATCH website, more than 50 percent of Texas schools use the program. CATCH partners include M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Humana Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Flaghouse and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation.