Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
Connie Dacus with the Alabama State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (ASAHPERD) surprised Jill Burt, the adaptive physical education (PE) teacher for Coosada Elementary School, Oct. 22, 2025, with a check for $500.
“This year is our 100th anniversary, and the executive board for the committee decided we needed to give something back to our members, so we sent out legacy grant applications. Out of 40 applicants, seven were chosen, and Jill was one of the seven chosen and the only recipient for Elmore County,” stated Dacus.
Jill Burt has been in the education field for 15 years. This is her second year as an adaptive PE teacher for Elmore County Public Schools.
“I have been at Selma City Schools for 10 years, teaching adaptive PE, and I wanted to move closer home, so I transferred here last school year. All our children have different abilities, and it’s our job to help them identify those abilities, bring them out, and just continue to celebrate them,” stated Burt.
With the grant money, Burt plans to incorporate some technology-based motion activities, including a gaming system called NEX Playground.
“This was such a great opportunity for our adaptive teacher to receive this grant because it means that she will be able to provide even more resources for the children that she serves in the area that she is assigned to. The funds used will benefit the children that truly need the additional resources that she will be able to provide through this grant,” said Temeyra McElrath, Special Education Director.
ASHAHPERD is the go-to organization in providing advocacy and professional development for K-12 health and physical education teachers, higher education kinesiology faculty and students, athletic coaches, and physical activity leaders in the state of Alabama. For more information you can visit their website at: https://www.asahperd.org/.
