EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State University College of Education Alumni Association (COEAA) has bestowed onto Ms. Dale Berry its prestigious Outstanding Alumni K-12 Teacher Award. Berry is a physical education teacher at Floyds Knobs Elementary School. Berry will receive her award at the College of Education's Award Ceremony, which will be held April 15 at the Kellogg Center on the MSU campus.

Berry is a 1972 graduate of Michigan State University's College of Education. She received her bachelor's degree in physical education. She also holds two master's degrees, one from Ball State University and one from Western Kentucky University.

For 24 years, Berry has been teaching physical education to students, having taught kindergarten through 10 th grade. Outside the classroom, she has been just as active. As a coach of elementary girls and boys cross country and track, her teams won the championship three times, in each sport. She founded a ski club for fourth and fifth graders and she leads a performing jump rope team of 100 students. While not in school, Berry conducts swimming lessons. Even more impressive, Berry has taken her enthusiasm for exercise across seas. She traveled to Poland to teach children jump rope and basketball skills.

Because of her incredible loyalty to physical education, in 1998, Indiana named Dale Berry the Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In 2001, she received the ExCEL Award, an award designed to recognize excellent educators.

"Her teaching is reflective of the highest level expected for any professional," said David Anspaugh, Ph.D., Ed.D., director of intercollegiate athletics at Tri State University, who nominated Berry for the award. "Dale is extremely concerned that her students not only learn but are exposed to academic rigors that will prepare them for any real life situation they may encounter. She truly understands and models the 'art' of effective teaching."

Berry has demonstrated leadership in her role as an educator. For the past 14 years, she has served on the executive committee of the board of directors for the Indiana Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. For many years, she has been the coordinator of Jump Rope for the Heart and Hoops for the Heart.

In her school and in her community, Berry has successfully promoted the importance of lifelong fitness.

"Ms. Berry's enthusiasm for fitness and for life is contagious, and it has spread to all those around her," said Dr. David Dieterle, president of the MSU COEAA board of directors. "The competition for this award was tough. But hands-down, Dale Berry has successfully motivated all those within her reach, instilling in them the value of a rich educational experience. She is truly representative of the College of Education's dedication to educational excellence."

The College of Education Alumni Association board of directors annually presents three awards to deserving alumni:
Outstanding K-12 Administrator, Outstanding K-12 Teacher and Distinguished Alumni.

For more information about the MSU COEAA, log on to www.educ.msu.edu/alumni
Contact: Kristen Parker, Alumni Coordinator, (517) 432-0445