Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia physical education professor Bryan McCullick was one of only three scholars selected for a special committee whose recommendations will directly impact master’s programs for physical education teachers across the nation.
McCullick, an associate professor in the College of Education’s department of kinesiology and graduate coordinator of the health and physical education teacher education program, was selected for the National Association for Sport and Physical Education’s prestigious committee based on his previous scholarship and expertise in the field of physical education.
“Dr. McCullick was selected for the task force based on his knowledge of both physical education and pedagogy and his reputation as a tireless worker,” said Charlene Burgeson, executive director for NASPE. “We are thankful for his willingness to provide guidance on this important project and his continued commitment to improving teacher education in the discipline.”
The committee, which met at least two to three times a month, worked together from November 2006 to June 2008.
“The committee was charged with reviewing the current NASPE Physical Education Teacher Education Advanced Standards and recommending changes to the NASPE Board of Directors, its membership and the Specialty Areas Studies Board of the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education,” McCullick said. “Specifically, our job was to apply current research on outcome-based education and physical education to the acute revisions of the existing standards.”
While the committee has completed its research and recommendations, the members still work together as reviewers of applications for programs submitted for accreditation. Their work will not be completed until another set of reviewers have been trained and are prepared to take over their positions.
McCullick was selected because of his research on preservice teaching participants’ views of teacher preparation and examining assessment and effective instructor certification programs, to ensure that the measuring methods are accurate and ultimately improving teacher development practices in physical education.
In addition, to his teaching and research, McCullick founded and directs the Georgia Physical Education Teachers Workshop every summer. The workshop provides Georgia’s practicing physical education teachers with current trends and new ideas in teaching. While pursuing his Ph.D. degree in physical education and sports education at UGA in 1995, McCullick worked in the UGA sport laboratory and continues to contribute to ongoing research in the lab.
McCullick joined the UGA faculty in 1998.