Meet Dean Terry, a dedicated physical education (PE) teacher at Koror Elementary School, working under the Palau Ministry of Education. With years of experience and a passion for helping young people grow, Dean’s approach to teaching PE is both creative and deeply rooted in respect for local culture.
A Day in Dean’s PE Program
Dean teaches about 28 students per class, from 4th to 8th grade. Each group meets twice a week, and there are also “other extra curricular activities on and off campus.” This means students have plenty of chances to get active and learn new skills, both during and after school.
From Athlete to Teacher
Dean’s journey to teaching is inspiring. “As an athlete and a leader within my community, I enjoy working with young athletes and seeing them succeed in sports but most especially in life,” he shares. After volunteering at a local high school, Dean discovered his love for teaching. “That’s when everything took off.”
Local Flavor: Unique Activities and Equipment
Dean doesn’t just stick to traditional sports. He brings in unique activities that reflect Palau’s island culture. For example, there’s runaway basketball: “A basket is woven out of coconut leaves and strapped onto the teacher’s back. Students are given foam balls and on the go signal, students try to make as many shots in the basket while the teacher is walking around.” It’s fun, active, and something students look forward to.
Middle schoolers also have favorites. “My students love doing drills with the agility ladder and other sports-specific equipment. They love playing with the OMNIKIN Ball.” It’s clear Dean knows how to keep kids excited about moving!
Respect at the Center
Dean builds his lessons around Palau’s cultural values. “Setting an environment of island culture where RESPECT is the center of all social interaction and with nature creates a thriving learning environment,” he explains. It’s about more than just sports—it’s about building character.
Challenges and Solutions
Of course, teaching PE in an international setting isn’t always easy. “The biggest challenge I face is the lack of proper equipment, especially when special equipment is needed for students with special needs.” To tackle this, Dean usually buys gear from local vendors, but last year, he tried ordering from Gopher. The experience was positive: “Gopher service was timely and excellent… Most of all the quality of Gopher equipment is evidence to their commitment to quality PE lessons and experience for students.”
Words of Wisdom for PE Teachers
Dean has simple but powerful advice for other PE teachers:
“Teach with passion and also treat and respect students as persons and not just students. Be sure to give your students a PRICELESS experience in PE.”
He even created the acronym PRICELESS to guide his teaching:
- P – Practice: Students have a chance to practice
- R – Relevant: Activity is made relevant
- I – Involved: Students are involved
- C – Climate: The climate is supportive
- E – Enjoyment: There is fun and enjoyment
- L – Learner-centered: Lesson is learner-centered
- E – Experience: Students’ experiences and skills are acknowledged
- S – Self-reflect: Students are encouraged to self-reflect
- S – Success: Students experience success and self-esteem is raised
What Dean Hopes Students Remember
At the end of the day, Dean wants students to look back at PE as “fun, educational and [know] that they can continue to lead a healthy lifestyle.” It’s not just about winning games or learning drills, it’s about giving students tools and memories for life.
