Kevin Yarnell

Kevin Yarnell of Hyde Park, New York, who received his master’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation, is the physical educator at Chancellor Livingston Elementary School in Rhinebeck, New York. The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS AHPERD) awarded Yarnell the Joy of Effort Award in 2023 and the Amazing Person Award in 2022.

In 2018, he received the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) National Jump Rope for Heart coordinator award and the American Heart Association’s Heroes of Heart Hall of Fame award. His school was named an American Heart Association “Top 25 School” in 2022 because they have raised over $93,000 in conjunction with the Kids Heart Challenge Program since Yarnell was hired in 2014. He continues to be an annual presenter at New York State’s NYS AHPERD Southeastern Zone and NYS AHPERD statewide conferences.

In addition, Yarnell is the social-media director for both the NYS AHPERD Southeastern Zone and state NYS AHPERD, mentor teacher for State University of New York Brockport student teaching, and student-teacher supervisor at Canisius College (Buffalo, NY). Yarnell has raised more than $65,000 through local and national grants to benefit the students of his district and elementary school. One of the grants he received enabled Chancellor Livingston Elementary School to install a $25,000 above-ground fitness gym for students, staff and community members. Another grant financed an outdoor human engineering trip to Camp Ramapo that was an interdisciplinary Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) educational experience.

The Physical Education Council that he created has developed several new leadership programs to assist students to be role models for their peers, ambassadors for their school, leaders in their community, and to promote fitness and wellness. Yarnell also has created numerous physical education programs to promote fitness and wellness while incorporating interdisciplinary learning for his elementary school students. His programs have been featured in more than 25 newspaper articles. Gopher Sport invited Yarnell to be one of the physical activity specialists for its “ActiveHomeChallenge PE Daily Challenge.”

He also is a PE, health, and fitness consultant, contributor, and presenter for Fit and Fun Playscapes. In addition, he was featured in the NYS AHPERD Advocacy Video, “15 Essential Keys – Health and Physical Education.” ESU professor emeritus Dr. Joella Mehrhof of St. Joseph, Missouri, nominated Yarnell for The Teachers College ORG award.