Laying a foundation of student activity

Teacher retires after 33 years of physical education.

By: Matt Egan
   After teaching physical education for 33 years, Theresa Cone is ready to say goodbye.
   "Working here has been a wonderful opportunity for me," said Dr. Cone. "I worked in a school district that challenged me, encouraged me, acknowledged my work and provided me an opportunity to grow as an educator and a leader."
   Dr. Cone spent the past 30 years at Brunswick Acres and plans on continuing to teach in Rowan University’s health and exercise science department, where she has been an adjunct for the past two years.
   During her tenure in the district, Dr. Cone has taught gym classes, coached several sports teams, founded and directed a dance company at the schools, and even authored three books.
   "What we do here lays the foundation for their future activity levels and their future health," she said.
   Dr. Cone’s hard work has been appreciated by her peers, who spoke of her glowingly.
   "She is a brilliant teacher and a model for some of the most effective and skillful practices that teachers use in having their classes be productive, efficient and successful for all the children," said Brunswick Acres Principal Joseph Aznek.
   Dr. Cone’s teaching philosophy focuses on five basic areas, fitness, team building, dance, gymnastics and games/sports. The emphasis is on developing skills, not necessarily on competitive play. She said the key is "getting students to understand and do the skills."
   Dr. Cone said she started off three decades ago with a much more traditional program. She adapted it to better meet the students’ needs.
   "I believe that every child is an individual and has their own unique abilities and I provide a program that allows children to reach their own potential, yet also lets them participate in a variety of ways of moving, from sports to gymnastics to dance," said Dr. Cone.
   Teaching for so many years has allowed Dr. Cone the chance to see many students succeed. She said her favorite part of teaching has been watching students finally complete an activity they worked a long time on and the wonderful moment when they finally get it.
   "That makes me feel like I have really made an impact or a difference in their lives," Dr. Cone said.
   Dr. Cone said her 33 years as an educator have changed her.
   "I became more open, that the teacher’s way is not the only way to do things," she said.
   She said that while many things have changed during her career, the diverseness of the student body has not.
   "The diversity is what has been constant here," Dr. Cone said. "We have a wonderful wealth of diversity of students from all over the world and it has been great to engage in these cultures."
   Dr. Cone said the students are more socially and culturally aware of what is going on in the world than when she started. One reason for that, she said, is the Internet.
   Dr. Cone said she sees to it that students maintain an active lifestyle. She also said it has become much more popular for girls to be involved in recreational teams.
   "Years ago it was much more of a boys’ sports world and now I see them equally engaging in sports," Dr. Cone said.
   Credit goes to the South Brunswick Recreation Department, Dr. Cone said.
   "The out-of-school activity keeps students healthy and active," she said.
   One accomplishment Dr. Cone is proud of is the creation of a children’s dance and performance company at Brunswick Acres.
   Mr. Aznek said the program has 60 to 100 students involved in it during any given year. Dr. Cone has directed the program since its founding 23 years ago. The program, which is the only one of its kind in the district, performed for the school twice a year.
   "We are pulling our hair out to figure out how to keep it going in the style she has done it," said Mr. Aznek. "It’s part of her legacy."
   Dr. Cone received her doctorate in dance from Temple University and has been a teacher and choreographer for the Princeton Ballet School in Princeton for the past 18 years.
   From 1977 to 1982 Dr. Cone coached girls field hockey at South Brunswick High School, and she coached girls soccer from 1983 to 1985.
   The three books Dr. Cone has authored all have covered physical education or dance. One book, "Teaching Children Dance," is in its second edition. She also wrote "Interdisciplinary Teaching Through Physical Education" and "Assessing Dance in Elementary Physical Education."
   "Dr. Cone really is a remarkable person and it’s been an honor to know her and watch her teach," said Mr. Aznek.
   Dr. Cone said she wants students to remember her as "a very caring and creative teacher who loves movement and always encourages students to be active in their lives."