Leading Healthy Schools Administrator Capacity Building Program

Leading Healthy Schools

Leading Healthy Schools is a free, year-long collaborative learning experience designed specifically for school and district administrators to build knowledge, skills, and community in pursuit of leading healthy schools.

Administrators leading in ANY school or district are encouraged to join!

Now recruiting through August 28!

Questions? Contact Kaitlyn Gaddis Thompson: [email protected]

View the Calendar

Developed by SHAPE America through the National Initiative to Advance Health Equity in K-12 Education by Preventing Chronic Disease and Promoting Healthy Behaviors, CDC-RFA-DP22-2203 with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Join LHS to Experience

Discussion Icon

Connection and Awareness

Connect with other administrators across the country and collectively increase your awareness of wellness policies and practices to benefit your school community.

Library Icon

Access to Resources

Gain access to evidence-based resources and tools to advance equitable health practices and programs at your school AND influence the creation of additional resources.

Profile Icon

Relevant Development

Experience professional learning experiences designed specifically for administrators to be able to apply immediately to their daily practice.

Additional Incentives

Chances to win

Equipment to Promote Physical Activity

Complimentary SHAPE America Membership

for a teacher in your school or district

Travel Stipend and Accommodations

to attend #SHAPECleveland

Certificate of Development Hours

What Can Participants Expect?

Participants will:

  • Join a cohort of 20-25 administrators from schools and districts across the country;
  • Receive 7.5 hours of virtual, biweekly rigorous and relevant professional development from October to December 2023;
  • Develop a plan to implement the most relevant aspects of their learning through spring 2024;
  • Receive individual and community support for plan implementation, and;
  • Travel to SHAPE America's National Convention & Expo in Cleveland to share knowledge with convention attendees and meet the cohort in person.

Who Are Ideal Participants?

Administrators committed to implementing sustainable school health and wellness practices and policies.

As a leader in your school or district, you aim:

  • To promote high quality, skills-based health education and physical education experiences for students at all levels;
  • To lead a school that fosters physical activity, healthy eating, and emotional well-being in students, school staff, and communities.

Administrators committed to continued learning and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusivity through policy.

Programming will require that you:

  • Explicitly discuss identity markers like race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, and more;
  • Examine the systemic oppression of marginalized groups;
  • Specifically examine the systemic and historical roots of inequities that exist in your school or district communities.

What's the Research Saying?

“...well-designed and well-implemented school health programs can influence multiple health outcomes...”1
“...School-related physical activity interventions may reduce anxiety, increase resilience, improve well-being and increase positive mental health in children and adolescents...”2
“...time spent engaged in physical activity is related not only to a healthier body but also to a healthier mind...”3
View the Calendar

1Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Division of Adolescent School Health. “Health Education.” https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health-education/index.htm. March 20, 2023.

2Andermo, S., Hallgren, M., Nguyen, T., Jonsson, S., Petersen, S., Friberg, M., Romqvist, A., Stubbs, B., Schäfer Elinder, L. School-related physical activity interventions and mental health among children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med Open, 2020 Jun 16, 6(1), 25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32548792/.

3Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF. Be smart, exercise your heart: Exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 2008, 9(1), 58–65. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK201501/.