Outride is proud to announce that we have THREE Champions who were nominated for Teacher of the Year awards — Jermar Rountree is wrapping up his time as a 2023 National Teacher of the Year finalist, and Alex Clark and Ryan McKinney were nominated for the 2024 SHAPE PE Teacher of the Year Awards, with McKinney going on to be named Middle School PE Teacher of the Year. To be considered for these prestigious awards, our Champions completed intense interview and application processes that demonstrated their outstanding teaching practices. You can click the following links to learn more about the awards process for the SHAPE PE Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year awards. Given the incredible impact these teachers have on their students’ lives, we wanted to spotlight their accomplishments and teaching philosophies. Read on to learn about our amazing teachers and how they are using bikes and other activities to positively shape future generations!

How many years have you been teaching?

Jermar Rountree: 18 years
Alex Clark: 9 years
Ryan McKinney: 16 years

What grades do you teach?

Rountree: Pre-school - 8th Grade
Clark: High school 9th - 12th Grade
McKinney: Middle school 5th - 8th Grade

Fun fact about you?

Rountree: By the time I was 10 years old, I had gone to 7 different elementary schools
Clark: I love to sing and play guitar
McKinney: I have been volcano boarding in Nicaragua

Why did you become an educator?

Rountree: Simply as an educator, I aim to be a role model for students to look up to and find inspiration. Teaching is challenging, but witnessing the joy on my students' faces when they solve problems or utilize the tools I've introduced outside of our classroom is truly remarkable.
Clark: Growing up in Connecticut, I didn’t have a lot of black teachers who looked like me. I had a ton of male teachers who made a huge impact on my life, but rarely did they look like me. I take pride in being a black male educator.
McKinney: I was inspired to become a teacher to be a molder of dreams and to help students succeed within their gifts. I've found physical education to be the profession where I can best make a difference in the lives of students. Finding ways for students to enjoy lifetime physical activity is huge, and so is helping students find their value and helping them to become better people.

How has Riding for Focus impacted your students?

Student in Ryan McKinney’s Riding for Focus class.

Rountree: Thanks to Outride, a whole new world has opened up for students! Now, not only can they use bikes as a mode of transportation, but they can do so safely. The emphasis here is on safety. While students may have been biking to and from their homes previously, they can now venture further with the confidence and knowledge to be safe riders.
Clark: Riding for Focus has helped kickstart our program and has created a connection between mental health and cycling. Every ride has its own challenges, so centering in on what my students will “Outride” has really been powerful in them focusing on being reflective learners while having fun.
McKinney: Riding for Focus has impacted many of our students in a profound way. We have had several students who developed a passion for biking through our classes and it has become a big part of their lives, through joining our bike racing team, to sharing that passion with family members who now ride together. Riding for Focus has also helped others overcome hurt and past fears as they've learned how to ride a bike in middle school after not successfully doing so in their childhoods.

Do you have a favorite Outride memory?

Rountree: One of the most compelling stories I love to share is about one of my remarkable students who initially faced challenges in joining elective classes due to concerns about their physical or mental abilities that they feared might impede their participation. Essentially, they were hesitant to explore new activities due to their disability. However, in my classroom, I prioritize ensuring that every student has a way to get involved. For this student, it meant providing them with time and a bit of privacy to navigate their path. They transitioned from being reluctant to participate, to quietly observing from a distance, to becoming an active part of the group, and eventually, to becoming a leader before moving on to high school. Not only did Outride offer a chance for this student to learn how to ride a bike, but it also nurtured confidence in a student who may not have attempted this new skill without the availability of bicycles.
Clark: My favorite Outride memory is always seeing students’ attitudes shift from the beginning of class where they may show uncertainty or fear to 30 minutes later at the end of class, asking, “when are we doing that again?” Best feeling as a teacher.
McKinney: I have a lot of fun Outride related memories. Some of them include touring the wind tunnel at Specialized Headquarters; building a mountain bike park through support from the Outride Fund and getting our community involved with the construction; but my fondest memories would be the adventures I get to go on during the school day with my students as they learn how to shred the mountain bike trails with fervor and passion.

What’s the most gratifying part about being a PE teacher?

Rountree: Teaching should be an exhilarating journey that combines the thrill of physical activity with the joy of understanding our bodies. It's not just a job; it's an adventure that brings both teachers and students together in a world of fun and discovery!
Clark: Using activities, sports, fitness, and movement as a way to empower students to become the best versions of themselves everyday.
McKinney: One of the most gratifying parts of being a teacher is getting invited to share in special moments like weddings and graduation open houses of former students because you had an impact on them and they want to include you on their special day. Similar to that is former students who have gone into coaching and teaching because of the impact I made in their lives and them wanting to do the same thing for someone else.

What values do you try to instill in your students… How do you do this?

Rountree: In my classroom, I emphasize three essential values: Respect, Empathy, and Growth Mindset. These values form the foundation upon which all other important virtues can be built.
Respect provides a platform for students to explore their boundaries, express their opinions, and celebrate their individuality. It teaches them the art of active listening, the importance of creating safe spaces for themselves and others, and the value of self-expression.
Empathy has become even more crucial during the pandemic as we navigate challenges and emotions. Rebuilding trust in others and understanding their struggles are essential not only in the classroom but also in society at large.
Growth Mindset is about embracing failure as a vital part of the learning journey. By encouraging students to "fail forward," they develop a mindset that embraces risks and new experiences, allowing them to approach tasks from fresh perspectives and continuously grow personally and academically.
Clark: HEART
H- Humility
E- Effort
A- Ambition
R- Resiliency
T- Teamwork
McKinney: Physical Education is so amazing for so many reasons, but one great thing about our subject is embedded into our academic standards as we are working on developing values to help make students successful future husbands, wives, employees, and contributing members to society. Some of these values include teamwork, perseverance, conflict resolution, and helping and encouraging others. We intentionally make these our outcome goals in class. Learning how to strike an object with proper form is great, but learning how to encourage your peers who are doing it and give positive feedback is better.