​New Trier’s Milne named Midwest Health Education Teacher of the Year

WINNETKA, IL — “A list to crush this year” hangs from Kinetic Wellness teacher Andrew Milne’s desk at New Trier High School, with some major goals for 2017. One stands out: Become the Health Education Teacher of the Year.

“You can only apply once,” Milne said. “For me, this was the best year to do exactly that.”

The result? He crushed it.

Milne was named the Illinois Health Education Teacher of the Year and later the Midwest District Health Education Teacher of the Year by SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators.

SHAPE America’s Midwest District represents six states from West Virginia to Wisconsin. The award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching performance in school health and the ability to motivate youth to make healthy choices for a lifetime.

Milne, who began teaching at the Winnetka high school four years ago, will be honored at the 132nd SHAPE American National Convention from March 14-18 in Boston.

With four other regional winners, Milne is also in the running for the distinguished honor of National Health Education Teacher of the Year. The national award recipient will be announced March 17 at the convention.

“I’m feeling really proud,” Milne said. “Going into the convention, I’m already a winner in my mind. If I win the national title, it will only amplify my voice even more.”

Since joining the staff of New Trier, Milne has brought many new ideas to the curriculum, including creating a series of successful iBooks for Sophomore Health, innovative goal-setting and advocacy projects, and the introduction of technology from student-led podcasts to iMovies to the latest apps.

In an effort to raise funds for health educators whose school districts cannot afford to send them to a national conference, New Trier Kinetic Wellness teacher Andrew Milne began a T-shirt project that has raised enough to send two teachers to the SHAPE American National Convention in Boston this March.

#SendaTeacher kicked off in July 2016 and has raised more than $1,000 so far via sales of T-shirts designed by Milne and purchased on www.sendateacher.com as well as other donations.

With the amount raised, Milne is assisting two teachers with registration fees:

Leah Lipschitz of The Community Academy of Science and Health and Nikki McMaster, currently in her second year of teaching physical education at Blackstone Innovation School. Both of the teachers are in the Boston area. With the convention a month away, any further money raised will be rolled over to support sending a teacher to next year’s convention in Nashville.

“Together, as a physical education and health community, we have the ability to help someone else,” Milne said.