Alumni Career Q + A with Madison Fisher, Physical Education Teacher
PE teacher reflects on career, education, and future goals
Name: Madison Fisher
Occupation: Physical education teacher
Graduation Year: May 2020
Why did you choose to go down the career path that you did?
I grew up dancing and really appreciating physical activity. I also love working with kids, and my first job was in a preschool teacher position. I loved that job and knew that the teacher path was the one I wanted to take. After a few classes in college, I quickly decided that PE was more appealing to me because I would still get to teach and continue to be active but also help students find their love for physical activity and create some wonderful relationships like I had with my dance teacher.
How did NAU prepare you for your career?
The NAU PE program was amazing. I cannot say enough great things about all of my professors and the work they put in to make sure we were successful. They were wonderful at making sure we had plenty of opportunities to get out there into schools and observe or practice teaching. I also feel as though they really spent a lot of time continuing their research and working with current PE teachers to make sure that what we learned at NAU would align with what is going on at the school districts and in the classroom.
Why should others consider pursuing a career in your field?
This field is very rewarding. Not only do you get to teach students new skills and activities to help them be active for a lifetime, but you also get to help with some very important life lessons and build relationships with the students. Physical activity is a very important part of everyone’s lives, and it is amazing to see how you can help so many students find some form of it that makes them feel successful and excited to continue to be active.
What do you hope to see in the future for your profession?
I hope to see more advocates for students with disabilities and more opportunities to learn adaptive PE. I would also love to see more funding in the schools for adaptive PE equipment. There are so many students who could benefit from new equipment or technology and feel more successful in class. I have spent a lot of time creating my own equipment, but it does not hold up as well.
What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of teaching PE is when you run into former students of yours and they say, “I loved having PE with you,” or “I decided to try out this activity because of you.” It makes me feel like I have done my job and that I have helped them find a love for physical activity.
What would you say to a student interested in pursuing your profession as a career?
I would say go for it! Being a PE teacher is great because a lot of times, it is just you. You do all the planning, and you have a ton of freedom to have fun with it and make your classes what you want them to be. However, it can be tough not having someone to work with on lessons, so reach out to colleagues from other schools and bounce ideas off each other. Reach out to NAU PE professors as well; they are amazing with continuing support, even if you are not in Flagstaff. Continue to educate yourself on new ideas and new ways to teach, and try those new things in class. Also, don’t be afraid to admit to your students when a lesson doesn’t work out, and ask them for feedback. Sometimes their feedback can bring up some great conversations.
What are some ways you practice self-care to avoid burnout / what do you do for fun?
To avoid burnout, I make sure to leave work at work as much as possible. In my free time, I love to paint and make art. It is very relaxing and is a great stress relief for me.