Interview with Healthy School Champion: Michelle Hayes

Last week I had the opportunity to chat with Michelle Hayes, a physical education teacher at Southside Middle School in Florence, South Carolina and proud member of the South Carolina Education Association.

Tell me about some of the ways that Southside Middle School is promoting healthy eating and active living for students.

There are three of us who are the primary drivers for wellness efforts at Southside Middle School: me, our school nurse Monique Chmielecki and our health teacher Bonnie Shaw.  As a group, we work very well together and have help from parents and students who partner up with us on special projects. Some of our biggest accomplishments to date have been taking Gatorade out of our school vending machines and replacing it with 100% fruit juice and water, starting a school garden, incorporating creative activities like Zumba and Yoga into our physical education classes, establishing an afterschool dance club, and partnering up with national initiatives like Let’s Move, Fuel up to Play 60, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program to support our efforts. [Author’s note: Southside recently received a Bronze level award from the Healthy Schools Program, the only middle school in South Carolina to receive the honor!].

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

My biggest battle has been getting unhealthy snacks and beverages out of our school. Three years ago the district successfully passed a policy to restrict the sale of sugary beverages in schools, but we still struggle with making sure the staff is aware of the policy and abiding by it. On the snacks side, my biggest challenge is school fundraisers. School budgets are really tight, leading many extracurricular groups turn to candy and donut sales to raise funds. Nurse Chmielecki and I have talked about non-food fundraising ideas such as sponsoring a school-wide 5k to raise money for school clubs.

What advice do you have for other educators who are looking to get students eating better and moving more?

Not doing it by yourself is key, as is getting administrative support. You can’t do much without having the principal on your side. Connect with other staff and students to help you reach your goal – no one can do it alone!  I started out my first year by asking Mr. Washington, our school principal, if I could organize a wellness night at Southside. The wellness night was such a success I’ve continued to hold one for our school each year and have expanded it to include several different themes in each room. For example, there were rooms for Pilates and Zumba demonstrations and for a local farmer to promote seasonal and organic produce. The success of the wellness night has made it easier for the three of us to work on more wellness efforts at the school. And along the way it has been hugely helpful that Mr. Washington has been and continues to be so supportive of our efforts.

What inspires you to be a champion for healthy schools?

Fitness and nutrition are important to me personally. I try to educate others about how important it is! I also have two children of my own, and am continually amazed by the types of foods and drinks that are allowed in the schools: snacks, treats, parties… Knowing how as a parent it is challenging to make sure the healthy choice is the easy choice at school for my own children, keeps me inspired to do the same for the parents of my students.

Thanks so much to Michelle for taking the time to share her story. If you are a school employee working to create healthy schools and are interested in being featured on our blog, send us an e-mail at [email protected].