Appalachian Today | Alumni Association

Wendy Clark ’01 teaches how lungs function. (Photo courtesy of Ron McCann, Lincoln Times-News)

Students entering sixth-grade health class at North Lincoln Middle School with teacher Wendy Clark ’01 are always prepared to get physical. Whether they’re intertwining their fingers then beating their palms together noisily to represent the beating of the heart, sticking out their hands parallel to their desks and wiggling their fingers to mimic alveoli – structures in the lungs that gather oxygen – or checking their heart rate after dancing the do-si-do, Clark strives to incorporate movement into her teaching, and relate human anatomy to things sixth-graders understand.

Clark’s passion for teaching and the practices she employs to get students excited about learning earned her the North Carolina Middle School Health Teacher of the Year award.

“Teaching is definitely my passion,” the Appalachian State University graduate said. “I make my class come to life. I want students to take with them practical skills to keep them healthy for a lifetime. What an honor to be able to do what I love and get an award for it.”

Clark was honored in November by The North Carolina Association for the Advancement of Health Education in Greensboro.