By Barbara ScottStaff Writer
Wayne Martin, a native of Caribou, and currently the high school physical education teacher at Windham High School was recently named the, M.A.H.P.E.R.D 2008 Physical Education Teacher of the Year at the annual MAHPERD Conference held in Rockland. MAHPERD (Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) is the governing body for health and physical educators for the State of Maine.
Martin was nominated for the prestigious award by Windham High School Principal, Deb McAfee. Upon the nomination martin had to submit a professional portfolio which was then scored by members of the MAHPERD awards committee.
Martin said, “ The following events may have contributed to my nomination. Windham has been a Polar Showcase School for five years and we implemented heart rate monitor technology in our classes five years ago in which students track their exercise heart rates daily.” “ My largest class is 55 students,” added Martin, “each student has their own heart rate monitor and we have visited with Gov. Baldacci to show him how to wear a polar heart rate monitor.” Another achievement Martin was involved with was the Future Fisherman Foundation’s PHYSH ED grant in 2007, allowing Windham to receive federal funds and donations in order to teach fly-fishing skills to high school students.
Martin, a teacher for a total of 12 years, two of which were in Van Buren, with the remaining years in Windham, graduated from Caribou High School in 1989, and from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1994. He was awarded the Portland Press High School Tennis Coach of the Year for 2006 and sits on MAHPERD’s board of executives as vice president of physical education, a position he has held for three years.
“There a many people who influenced me to become a teacher,” stated Martin, “I would like to thank my parents, John and Ghislaine Martin; Dwight Hunter, athletic director at Caribou High School and my PE teacher in school; Dave Wakana, my cooperating teacher while at UMPI and Caribou High School soccer coach; Gerry Duffy and Jeff Holmes, high school basketball coaches and PE teachers at Caribou; James Ugone, Caribou High School principal and my supervisor while at UMPI; Dave Martin, CHS math teacher and the best teacher I ever had; Bob Cyr, a great coach and teacher; Ralph Michaud, cooperating teacher, Presque Isle PE teacher and Steve Perreault , Caribou Middle School teacher and coach.”
Martin lives in Gray with his wife of 10 years, Jackie and their three children; Jaley, 8; Johnathan, 7 and Brooke, 4. Along with his physical education classes he teaches, he also coaches the freshman girls’ basketball team, the varsity boy’s tennis and the boy’s junior varsity soccer team.
Contributed photo
Wayne Martin, right, adjusts a heart rate monitor for one of his many PE students at Windham High School.
