Making Fitness a Priority at Humphreys Central Elementary

At Humphreys Central Elementary School, Coach McKeller is helping to redefine what it means to support both students and educators by bringing health and wellness into the school community. Before and after the duty day on Mondays and Wednesdays, he leads a workout circuit in the PE room designed exclusively for faculty and staff.

This initiative is not part of an extra-duty assignment—it’s a reflection of what Coach McKeller believes deeply: that physical fitness should be a priority in the lives of educators and that wellness is the foundation for living our best lives.

The workouts are practical, efficient, and energizing. Faculty and staff rotate through stations that include weights, push-ups, planks, and short sprints, all completed in challenging but achievable reps. By offering the circuit at school, Coach McKeller helps educators fit physical activity into their demanding schedules without needing to leave the building.

“So often, educators are in our school buildings long before and long after the duty day,” Coach McKeller explained. “Even if they plan to make time for the gym, it often doesn’t happen. With circuit training right here in the building, they only need to step away from their classrooms for a short time, then they can get right back to preparing for students.”

The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“I love having this opportunity right here in school,” one educator shared. “It helps me feel stronger, healthier, and more balanced—and that makes me a better teacher for my students.”

Through this simple but powerful routine, Coach McKeller is not only strengthening bodies but also building a culture of wellness that inspires educators to prioritize their own health. At Humphreys Central Elementary, physical fitness isn’t just a class for students—it’s a way of life for the whole school community.