Joe Perez hates the stigma that comes with being a gym teacher – you know, the image of the guy with the whistle around his neck who makes students do jumping jacks and sit-ups after a game of basketball.
“There definitely is a stigma involved,” said Perez, who has been the resource teacher at Weehawken’s Roosevelt School for the last 22 years, coordinating the program that includes physical education and health. “A lot of us are doing a real good job in teaching phys. ed. We’re hard-working teachers, but we’re not recognized properly as being teachers.”
Perez has done his best to shatter that image during his days at Roosevelt School. He’s more than a simple gym teacher.
Perez brings a host of different activities into the regular gym classes, which are held three days a week, not once a week like most area grammar schools.
For example, Perez teaches the fifth and sixth graders at Roosevelt all of the intricacies of the sport of archery. Robin Hood and William Tell have nothing on the kids at Roosevelt.
“I’m an avid archer who goes to target practice all the time,” Perez said. “I feel it’s a lifetime sport.”
The children are also taught the proper techniques in badminton. Now, there’s something that isn’t taught every day in this country. In India and England, sure, but in the United States? Get out the basketballs.
“Of course, we modify the game of badminton for the kids,” Perez said. “But it’s still badminton.”
Perez is also not one to simply roll out the balls and let the kids play.
“I like to teach skills,” Perez said. “I keep the commitment to the sport. I go through all the skills and teach the proper techniques.”
“Joe is more of a coach when he’s teaching,” said Roosevelt School Principal Anthony LaBruno. “He breaks each sport down to its minute points.”
Perez also oversees the school’s Cultural Arts program, where the students are taught the different ways of performing and theater arts. That’s part of his gym classes as well.
When the time came for Roosevelt School to honor one of its educators as the annual Teacher of the Year, as part of Teacher Recognition Month from the state of New Jersey, LaBruno believed that the time had come to honor Perez.
“I always felt that Joe Perez had one of the most difficult jobs in the school,” LaBruno said. “He’s the only gym teacher we have, and he’s been here for 22 years. Sometimes, we have to double the size of his classes, putting 40 or so kids in his class with only him. And he never complains. He doesn’t mind if you give him added assignments. He just keeps going. There isn’t enough time in the day and he’s still teaching.”
So the Roosevelt School selection committee of teachers and administrators decided to select Perez as their Teacher of the Year for the 2003-04 school year.
Perez will be honored, along with the other teachers in the district and in Hudson County, at the annual Teacher of the Year luncheon upcoming next month at Schuetzen Park in North Bergen.
“I was absolutely shocked,” Perez said. “When Anthony announced that I was to receive the honor, it was a real surprise. He read all the things that I’ve done and I never really thought about it before. I never thought they would ever consider a resource teacher for this honor. It’s very nice and I’m definitely honored.”
Perez, who is also a respected high school and women’s college basketball referee and has been for 18 years, said that he was flattered to be selected.
“It is always a good feeling to be recognized by the people you work closest with,” Perez said. “You feel appreciated for what you do.”
“Whatever needs to be done, Joe is willing to take it on,” LaBruno said. “I really felt like it was time to give him his due. He deserves this honor. He’s one that doesn’t mind to teach longer and stay longer, even if he has very little time to himself. He’s a refreshing rarity.”