2024 Elections - NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance

2024 General Election

President-elect Candidates

Teresa “Terry” Gendron earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and her master’s degree in writing from the College of St. Rose. She has been teaching over 32 years and is currently a physical education teacher in the Cohoes City School District. In service to NYS AHPERD, Terry is currently the Middle School/High School Physical Education Section President. She has been an active member of NYS AHPERD and the Capital Zone for many years, serving as NYS AHPERD Elementary Physical Education Section president, Zone president, zone conference chair, both the zone elementary physical education and middle school/high school physical education section representative, as well as recreation/adventure education section representative. Terry has presented at zone conferences around the state and the NYS AHPERD annual conference. She was the recipient of the NYS AHPERD Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year award as well as the Elementary/Middle School Physical Education Section Amazing Person award.

Henry Opperman earned his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and his master’s degree in sports management from Adelphi University. He has been teaching over 13 years and is currently a health education teacher in the Uniondale Union Free School District. Henry is also an Adjunct Professor at Adelphi University. In service to NYS AHPERD, he is currently the Exercise Science/Sports Medicine Section President. Henry has been an active member of the Nassau Zone for many years, serving as Zone president, secretary, vice president for health education, future professionals’ representative, and as the mini-grant chairperson. He is a member of the Zone’s bylaws, budget, physical education high school awards dinner and conference committees. Henry was instrumental in creating the Bob Kenney Mentorship Program; designed for NYS AHPERD graduating students and new professionals. He has presented at both the Nassau Zone conference and NYS AHPERD annual conference. Henry was the recipient of the NYS AHPERD High School Health Education Teacher of the Year award as well as the Nassau Zone Amazing Person award.

Board of Director Candidates

Shelly Connors

Shelly Connors earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and a master’s degree in Adventure Education from Plymouth State University. Shelly has been a physical education teacher for almost 30 years; teaching at the Auburn Enlarged City School District for the last 23 years. In service to NYS AHPERD, Shelly has served as Association President and is currently in the Past President role on our Board of Directors. She has served as Central North Zone President, Secondary Physical Education Section President and Recreation/Adventure Education Section President. She has presented at zone conferences around the state, the NYS AHPERD annual conference and national conferences. Shelly has received the NYS AHPERD Secondary Physical Education Teacher of the Year award, NYS AHPERD Secondary Physical Education Amazing Person and several Central North Zone awards including the Cheri Stevens award, Secondary Teacher of the Year award, and Amazing Person award. In 2019, Shelly was honored with the SHAPE Eastern District High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year award.

Eric Kohl

Eric Kohl received his bachelor’s degree in health and physical education and his master’s degree in adapted physical education from SUNY Brockport. He has been teaching for more than 12 years and is currently a restorative coach and adapted physical education teacher at Bird/Morgan School, Monroe 1 BOCES. In service to NYS AHPERD, Eric has been the Central Western Zone President as well as Adapted Physical Education & Sport Section President and Recreation/Adventure Education Section President. He has been an active member of the Central Western Zone in other capacities including zone conference planning committee and the zone teacher of the year awards committee. Eric has presented at zone and state annual conferences. He has received the NYS AHPERD Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year award as well as an Adapted Physical Education & Sport Section Amazing Person award. In 2021, he was honored with the SHAPE Eastern District Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year award.

Dr. Victor Ramsey

Dr. Victor Ramsey received his degrees at York College and Manhattan College and earned his Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Teaching Physical Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. Since retiring in July 2022, he has served as a liaison for NYC Office of School Wellness Programs mentoring and coaching health and physical educators. Victor is also an adjunct assistant professor at York College where he also serves as an advisor for the movement science, health and physical education majors club. In service to NYS AHPERD, he currently serves as a member of our Board of Directors, and is the co-host of our A-Z Health & PE Podcast. Victor was the first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness Section president, has served as president of the New York City Zone and the Recreation/Adventure Education Section. He is currently serving as a member of the SHAPE America Board of Directors. Victor has presented at state, zone and national conferences. He was the recipient of the NYS AHPERD Distinguished Service award as well as the New York City Zone Amazing Person award.

Dr. Clancy Seymour

Dr. Clancy Seymour earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Canisius College, and his doctorate from D’Youville College. He is currently an associate professor and the Director of Health, Physical Education, and Sport Pedagogy at Canisius College, where he has been for more than twenty-five years. In 2023, Clancy served as co-executive director of NYS AHPERD. In service to NYS AHPERD, he currently serves as a member of our Board of Directors, and is the co-host of our A-Z Health & PE Podcast. Clancy has served as Association President and Western Zone President. He has been an active member of the Western Zone serving as Higher Education Section Chair, conference site host and organizer. Clancy has several peer-reviewed journal publications to his credit and was the co-editor of the Curriculum and Assessment Guidance Document for Physical Education, Second Edition. He serves on the by-laws/operating codes, nominations, and distinguished service/professional of the year/lifetime service award committees. Clancy has presented at state, zone and national conferences. He’s served as the president of the NYS Professional Preparation Council for Physical Education. Clancy has received the Professional of the Year award and both the Western Zone and Higher Education/Professional Preparation Section Amazing Person award.

YOU MAY ONLY VOTE ONCE! Duplicates from your member number will disqualify all of your votes.

Voting ends at 11:59 pm on Friday, May 17, 2024. Thank you for taking the time to vote for your NYS AHPERD Leadership!

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