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Class has led HCCSC employees in a healthier direction this year

Riverview Middle School teacher Connie Duling (left) spots Lisa Nightingale during her ab crunches, part of the regimen of the fitness class for Huntington County School Corporation employees held twice a week at Lincoln Elementary School.
Riverview Middle School teacher Connie Duling (left) spots Lisa Nightingale during her ab crunches, part of the regimen of the fitness class for Huntington County School Corporation employees held twice a week at Lincoln Elementary School. Photo by Rebecca Sandlin.

Originally published Dec. 12, 2013.

For a group of Huntington County School Corporation educators and staff members, taking a class themselves has led them in a healthier direction.

As part of the school corporation's wellness program, about 40 employees are stretching, flexing and strengthening their physical fitness in an exercise class that meets twice a week at Lincoln Elementary School.

Courtney Drummond, a wellness coach with Parkview Total Health, conducted the on-site exercise program for HCCSC during the summer months, and has extended sessions year-round after participants asked to continue.

Drummond says any employee at any activity level can come to one of two sessions that meet on Mondays and Thursdays. There are modifications for each type of exercise and the participant picks the level of intensity they exert for each.

"This is basic movement," she explains. "Anything within the class; we don't use any type of equipment because I want to make them able to do it at home."

Drummond reports the participation has been good and participants like the class.

"The enthusiasm of everyone that participates is encouraging and contagious to everyone around them, which is exciting," she says. "It makes it exciting to be a coach because it's so contagious and it's just a very positive environment that I feel is welcoming to people who come in and join."

Anita Henry, a secretary at Lincoln Elementary School, believes everyone in the school corporation should take the class. She says she has lost inches, gained muscle strength and feels her body is in better alignment since she joined the class. But she also likes how the physical activity has helped her mind.

"It has made for a very positive mental attitude for daily life," she says. "If you exercise, it helps your memory to think about all the good things that it is doing for you physically. It just helps you to have a better mental outlook."

Seventh-grade English/language arts teacher Connie Duling says the exercise class provides her with more activity in her life. The Riverview Middle School teacher adds the class is fun and when she leaves she feels like she has more energy.

"Realistically, I'm not going to give up chocolate and stop eating, so I might as well exercise. It sort of counter balances," She says. "I used to be more active because I coached, and when I stopped coaching, instead of pacing around the gym and yelling at kids, working on this and that, I sat around more. So this is a good way for me to be more active."

Rick Reed, the principal of Salamonie School, began the class a couple of months ago, but has already seen the benefits of increased movement. He likes that Drummond has a different workout planned for the group with each new session.

"Anytime you get exercise you're ahead of the game," he says. "I'm just trying to get my heart rate up and just trying to stay fit as best I can."

Complete caption: Riverview Middle School teacher Connie Duling (left) spots Lisa Nightingale during her ab crunches, part of the regimen of the fitness class for Huntington County School Corporation employees held twice a week at Lincoln Elementary School. Duling teaches seventh-grade English language arts and Nightingale teaches sixth-grade science at Riverview.