SPARK - School Specialty. Physical Education & Wellness

MR. PAUL ROSENGARD: Is the Executive Director of the SPARK Programs of San Diego State University Research Foundation (disseminated by School Specialty, Inc.) and a former 11 year faculty member at the University of California, San Diego, where he instructed future classroom and physical education teacher methods courses. Mr. Rosengard is known for his extensive work as a physical activity interventionist, having contributed as an intervention director, consultant and trainer for a number of benchmark national studies/projects including SPARK, TAAG, M-SPAN, Pathways, PEACH, OPprA, OPI, POPI, and the myriad Nike campaigns. Mr. Rosengard was appointed the first Deputy Director of the CA Governor's Council of Physical Fitness and Sports (1996) and served as a key member on the education committee for many years. He was selected as one of 20 Special Advisors to the new Governor's Council in Governor Swarzenegger's current administration. Mr. Rosengard is nationally known for his creative writing and innovative pedagogical methods, which have been proven effective in improving physical activity programs, teacher effectiveness, and student outcomes. To date, he has over 25 publications in professional journals, has authored or co-authored 16 curriculum books for teachers, and conducted more than 350 professional workshops and conference presentations worldwide, many as a featured or keynote speaker.

DR. THOM MCKENZIE: Is Professor Emeritus in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University and former Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego. He is a former public school teacher and administrator, and has authored over 150 articles and book chapters and presented over 300 papers at professional conferences. He is a Fellow in four professional organizations, including the Research Consortium of AAHPERD, the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education (AAKPE), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the North American Society of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance Professionals (NAS). His work is recognized internationally, and in 2003 was awarded the AIESEP International Olympic Committee President's Prize for research and program development. He currently an investigator on seven projects funded to study physical education and physical activity.

DR. JAMES SALLIS: Is Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and Director of Active Living Research, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  His primary research interests are promoting physical activity and understanding policy and environmental influences on physical activity, nutrition, and obesity.  He has made contributions in the areas of measurement, correlates of physical activity, intervention, and advocacy.  His health improvement programs have been studied and used in health care settings, schools, universities, and companies.  He is an author of over 450 scientific publications, co-author of several books, on the editorial boards of several journals, and one of the world’s most cited authors in the social sciences.  Dr. Sallis has received awards from the American College of Sports Medicine, Society of Behavioral Medicine, and American Psychological Association Division of Health Psychology.  His current focus is using research to inform policy and environmental changes that will increase physical activity and reduce childhood obesity.  He is a frequent consultant to universities, health organizations, and corporations worldwide.  Dr Sallis frequently appears in major media outlets, and Time Magazine identified him as an “obesity warrior”.  www.drjamessallis.sdsu.edu

Pictured Above: Dr. Sallis spends the day advising Governor Schwarzenegger on childhood obesity issues...