By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



When teachers at Bryan Elementary see that their students are getting tired, they just pop in a video and get the kids up and moving.

The videos are part of the WAY program: Wellness, Academics and You.

WAY is a statewide initiative to implement activity and better nutrition in schools along with academics. The program teaches children to make healthier choices when it comes to eating and exercising.

Bryan Elementary hosted a news conference Monday to tell how the WAY program has benefitted that school.

Bryan principal Debra Campbell said that after implementing WAY, she has seen increased academic performance, better health among students, improved attendance and less disciplinary action needed.

Also on hand Monday was Jefferson County school superintendent Dr. Phil Hammonds, state superintendent of education Dr. Joseph Morton, commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama senior vice president Jim Brown, and Institute for American’s Health director Stuart Reese.

“There’s nothing more important than the health of our children,” said Sparks at the conference.

Officials and school principals from Kimberly, Morris and Warrior also attended the news conference, as well as guests from UAB, the Jefferson County Board of Education and others.

Physical education teacher Rebecca Recke is the team captain for WAY at Bryan Elementary School.

“The coolest thing is that it has classroom teachers backing up what we’re doing,” said Recke.

In the classrooms, teachers play videos every morning and afternoon that lead the students in exercises.

There are also weekly school-wide nutrition challenges. Recke said that last week, students were challenged to stay away from soft drinks. This week it is soft drinks and potato chips.

She said the benefits of WAY go beyond improving physical health by also helping children set goals and have a healthy self-concept.

Bryan Elementary implemented WAY last spring along with other schools in Jefferson County, Mobile County and the city of Opelika. In the first phase, 250 teachers and 8,900 students were involved.

In phase two, 202 teachers in 97 public schools were trained, with another 147 to be trained this month.