National Health Education Standards

SHAPE America–Society of Health and Physical Educators is the largest organization of health and physical educators in the country, serving as the voice for more than 200,000 professionals across the United States. The organization’s community includes a diverse membership of health and physical educators, as well as advocates, supporters, and over 50 state affiliate organizations. Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in physical education. For decades, SHAPE America’s National Standards for K-12 Physical Education have served as the foundation for well-designed physical education programs across the country. Additionally, the organization helped develop the National Health Education Standards and now owns this set of standards.

About the Contributors
Kandice Porter, PhD, MCHES©, is a professor and associate dean for academic affairs in the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services at Kennesaw State University. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health science education from the University of Florida and a doctorate in health behavior from Indiana University–Bloomington. Her teaching and research focus on effective pedagogical approaches in school health education. She works with national, state, and local organizations to promote quality school health efforts. In addition, she has been instrumental in developing degree programs in public health and integrated health sciences, as well as interprofessional coursework and research opportunities, within the Wellstar College.

Holly Alperin, EdM, MCHES©, is a clinical associate professor at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and has over 20 years of experience in both public health and education. As a faculty member and program coordinator of the department of kinesiology’s health and physical education teacher preparation program, she focuses on preparing preservice educators to teach using a skills-based approach. Prior to UNH, she worked at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in a variety of roles that supported schools in their efforts to strengthen policies and increase capacity around school health education and programs, school nutrition programs, and professional learning experiences for educators. Alperin is the past vice president of health education for the New Hampshire Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as well as the past chair of SHAPE America's Health Education Council. She received her master’s degree in education in policy, planning, and administration from Boston University and her bachelor’s degree in health education and health promotion from Central Michigan University. She holds the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) credential.

Angela Beale-Tawfeeq, PhD, MPH, has over 20 years of experience at the university level at various institutions, including Adelphi University, West Chester University, and Temple University. She is currently an associate professor of health and physical education teacher education at Rowan University. She has authored or coauthored many publications, including Informal and Formal Mentoring for and by Scholars and Faculty of Color, Challenges and Strategies of Being an African American Chairperson in Kinesiology, and A Cause to Action: Learning to Develop a Culturally Responsive/Relevant Approach to 21st Century Water Safety Messaging Through Collaborative Partnerships. Beale-Tawfeeq is the recipient of the 2021 SHAPE America E.B. Henderson Award. In her work, she strives to help individuals see the overall impact of social construct on the view of health and wellness.

Mary Connolly, MEd, CHES©, is an adjunct professor at Curry College and a professor at Cambridge College. She is an accomplished health education professional whose career spans nearly four decades and includes teaching and administration in public schools and higher education. She served on the committee to revise the National Health Education Standards in 2007 and is a member of the Massachusetts Interdisciplinary Health Education and Human Services Advisory Council and the American School Health Association (ASHA) Coordinator’s Committee. She is a reviewer for the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. She was awarded the SHAPE America Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.