Why Students Stop Loving PE -- And How California Teacher of the Year Nicholas Westfall Is Fixing It

Описание: In this energizing episode of On the School Bus with Dr. Spates, I sit down with California Teacher of the Year Nicholas Westfall, a passionate and innovative physical educator who is redefining what physical education can look and feel like for students.

Nicholas shares how his journey into physical education began at just 13 years old, inspired by his father’s advice, and how that calling eventually led him to statewide recognition as California Teacher of the Year. What impacted me most was how intentionally he designs learning experiences for students who traditionally feel disconnected from PE. We talk about his yoga-based PE class created specifically for students who once dreaded PE and unpack how he integrates mindfulness, social emotional learning, growth mindset, and standards-based grading into a curriculum that honors both rigor and belonging.

We also dive into his powerful “speed-friending” protocol, a strategy that builds authentic peer connections and teaches students how to ask meaningful questions. As Nicholas reminds us, “People are so interesting.” That line stayed with me. If you care about innovative teaching, student engagement, wellness, and building deeper relationships in schools, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

🎧 Sound Bites That Stuck With Me
“People are so interesting.”
“Impossible is just an opinion.”
“Education is not Starbucks.”

🔑 Keywords
physical education, California Teacher of the Year, innovative teaching, student engagement, yoga, mindfulness, speed friending, social emotional learning, conversation skills, education friendship quality, teacher collaboration, physical education, growth mindset, wellness, community engagement, educational policy, professional development, student relationships, teaching standards

🚌 About the Podcast
So here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together. This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 education, and the once-passionate leaders who just need a spark to find their way back.

As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.

📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates
Website: ontheschoolbuswithdrspates.com
Website: KrishnaSpates.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates
LinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.

📬 Connect with Nicholas Westfall
Physical Education Teacher & California Teacher Of The Year 2025
Substack Newsletter: https://nicholaswestfall.substack.com/
LinkedIn:   / nicholas-westfall-a75b49131  

📸 Production Studio
Recorded at 661 Creators Space
Website: 661CreatorsSpace.com
Instagram: @661CreatorsSpace
Email: [email protected]

🎼 Music
Theme Song: “Call of Duty” — Mutanix
Instagram: @mutanixs
Email: [email protected]
Used with permission.

💛 Support the Work
If this episode inspired you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share with another school leader. Watch the playlist on YouTube while you're multi-tasking: Listen here. Our students, families, and communities are counting on us.