James C. Jenkins, a Physical Education Teaching Education graduate, has become a jet setter since earning his degree. Jenkins, certified in both physical education and mathematics, has been teaching internationally for nine years.
“I spent two years in Bangkok, Thailand, two years in Tel Aviv, Israel, and five years in Hong Kong,” Jenkins said.
Through each new experience he credits his time in the PETE master’s program and the professors he learned from. Their creative teaching and love of PE and all it entails helped in making Jenkins the teacher he is today.
Jenkins said, “While I have taken something away from each of the PETE instructors, Dr. Hawkins and Dr. Bulger have been especially motivating to me.”
Dr. Sean Bulger, who earned his doctorate in physical education with a cognate in applied exercise science from WVU, also had kind words about Jenkins.
“James provides us with a tremendous example of a master teacher who has substantially exceeded this programmatic expectation,” Bulger said. “As impressed as I have been with his list of accomplishments to date, I remain even more excited about the next steps in his continued professional development because he has already demonstrated such considerable promise as a leader within the profession.”
Jenkins shares advice for incoming freshman looking for success in the PETE program.
“Never stop rethinking and questioning your practices. As you go through the PETE program you will be presented with new concepts and ideas and your application of such is limited only by your own drive.
“Take notes of ideas you have for your program as they arise while completing assignments, engage in professional conversations, watch others and try to incorporate some of these into your own teaching. New ideas always take planning and thought to implement, but one of the marks of a great teacher is his/her ability to maximize time with students,” he added.