Score for soccer player, coach and Physical Education teacher Derek DeLucia at
Melissa Jones Elementary School! But Derek, more commonly known as Coach D, will
tell you the U Fitness Grant isn’t about winning, it’s about inspiring and motivating his
students on their individualized journey towards a life of health and fitness.
With the U Fitness Grant, Coach D will be able to enhance the PE program at MJS with
the use of a Heart Zones kit. Using wristband heart rate monitors, students will be able
to see and track their exertion levels in class and will receive individualized feedback on
how to improve. By being able to track their performance in real time, students will see
number of steps taken, calories burned, heart rate, as well as measure their amount of
moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) each week.
Inspired by the work of Dr. Daniel F. O’Neill, Coach D recognizes how his students
struggle with finding their “personal fitness identity”. Coach D wants to empower his
students to focus on their own health and fitness and make exercise an essential part of
their lives.
Thank you Coach D for recognizing the importance of physical health! The students at
Melissa Jones are sure to win again and again in the lifelong game of fitness with your
positive energy and leadership.
To continue supporting inspiration and innovation in our classrooms, please consider
donating to gffe.org/donate or to learn about all that we do, visit gffe.org/make-a-