MAHPERD "Voices From The field"
In this podcast, you will hear from educators and professionals in the field sharing their insights and experiences in the HPE (Health Physical Education) and allied fields. I hope you find this podcast informative, and inspiring. Learn about best practices and tools that you can implement in your teaching practice. We want to know not only what you do, but also the action steps you took to get you where you are. The Status Quo is not in our vocabulary folks, my guests are leaders in the field who are taking action to make an impact in their respective fields. If you have any questions or would like to be a guest on the show email mahperdpodcast@gmail.com
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got" Henry Ford
MAHPERD "Voices From The field"
The Power of Connection: Meet Maria Melchionda, MAHPERDS Executive Director
In this illuminating conversation with Maria Melchionda, a 40-year veteran educator and executive director of MAHPERD, we explore the difference between qualified instruction and common misconceptions in the field.
Maria shares her journey from student to leader, revealing how a professor's simple invitation to join a professional organization set her on an unexpected path to leadership. With warmth and wisdom, she articulates why face-to-face professional connections remain irreplaceable in our digital era: "You cannot understand another human being without seeing social cues, without sitting down and having that eye contact or a handshake." This philosophy underpins MAHPERDS s approach to professional development and community building.
Throughout our discussion, Maria addresses persistent myths about physical education, offering a compelling analogy that resonates with parents and stakeholders alike: "You don't want a plumber as your child's physician." This straightforward comparison effectively illustrates why specialized training matters in health and physical education. Beyond advocacy, Maria details MAHPERDS extensive partnership network spanning approximately 17 organizations and explains how their regional advocacy structure ensures outreach to all corners of Massachusetts.
For educators at any career stage, Maria's message is clear and encouraging: "Everyone has something to give." She emphasizes that joining professional organizations isn't just about receiving resources—it's about discovering your unique contributions to a community dedicated to improving student health and wellbeing.
This conversation offers insights on professional growth, advocacy, and the enduring importance of human connection. Subscribe to Voices from the Field to hear more perspectives from educators making a difference in health and physical education.
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Email: Maria@ma-hperd.org Cell: 508-794-1338
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Linked In: MAHPERD
Hello and welcome to Voices from the Field, a MAHPERD podcast where we talk with educators in the field to hear about their perspectives and experiences. My name is Jake Bersin, advocacy Chair for MAHPERD, and today I have the pleasure of speaking with the one, the only, maria Melchionda. Maria Melchionda has been in education for 40 years. She has a master's in educational leadership K-6, and has a bachelor of science license in K-9 physical education.
Jake:Both degrees come from Bridgewater State College "Go Bears or 20 years, past president of the Massachusetts Association for Health, physical Education, recreation and Dance, member of the AAHPERD National Association for Sport and Physical Education Public Relations Committee and past chair of the AHHPERD Public and Legislative Affairs Committee. Maria has served as SAM Society of Association and Management, all-state Executive Director's Chair of the Eastern District Association and SAM Chair of SHAPE America. She has made numerous presentations in various arenas on the national, regional and state levels pertaining to quality health and physical education for all students. Maria received the 2004 MAHPERD Elementary Teacher of the Year, the 1997 MAHPERD Honor Award and 2011 Presidential Citation. She is also the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Professional in Physical Service Award from Shape America Eastern District and the 2025 Massachusetts State University's Educator Alumni Award, representing Bridgewater State University. Wow, maria, that's quite the intro. Welcome, I'm so happy to have you.
Maria:It's just absolutely wonderful to be here, and, with our own advocacy chair, I am so delighted. So thank you for having me, jake.
Jake:Awesome, Maria. So before we get started, I'd like to ask our guest this question what's making you smile these days?
Maria:The fact that I can wake up and see the sun, son, and it's another, it's another day to to enjoy my kids, my wife, my family and my friends. That is what makes me tick. I wake up and I'm just really grateful to see another day.
Jake:Awesome. I would agree to simple things in life sometimes, right, amen. So, maria, tell us more about who you are and what you do.
Maria:Well, and that's a loaded question, you know, I mean, you can have your bio right, but I don't think it really tells the story of any person. So I'm always, you know, asking the same question to others, as far as you know knowing them and what their journey is as a human being. So what I'm all about is I'm a person who cares. I care for students and teachers. My first priority is my family, with my son and my daughter and my wife for 29 years. I'm just really into service and that's why I'm so, you know, honored to to be in this role as executive director
Jake:that's
Jake:great, maria, so sounds like you're definitely a family person, definitely grateful for the simple things in life.
Jake:What are some responsibilities you have as executive director of Mayford?
Maria:just for our listeners, they get like a little background about this yeah, first I've been in this role for, about 20 years and, um, I'm always learning.
Maria:That's number one, and I think the day I stop learning is the day that I walk away. Um, because I think it's just so essential for the teachers in our association that I serve, that they get the best of everything. So it's really three prong. I do a lot of advocacy work with yourself and the advocacy directors I know we'll probably talk about later. I do a lot of legislative work up at the state house, trying to, you know, have conversations and discussions with senators and reps in Massachusetts about the importance of physical education and health education in our public schools, disseminate the latest information and research on findings for approaches to education strategies, curriculum, et cetera, assessment. And then, you know, lastly, and really in the forefront, has been our professional development events, with all of our focus conferences for health education, adaptive PE leadership and then, of course, our two-day convention and then all these other workshops that are spread in between.
Jake:That's great. I'm glad you mentioned that, because MAHPERD definitely offers a lot of different opportunities for its members to take part in professional development. So we have the spring conference, we have the fall conference, we have the fall conference, we have the health educators conference, the adapted PE conference. I know there's a few more in there. Right Is there a leadership conference? What am I missing?
Maria:No, that's all good. And then workshops in between that might be online, or you know, we go to school districts. Myself and our higher education chair on our board, Mary Conley, has been out to numerous school districts. Myself and our higher education chair on our board, Mary Connolly, has been out to numerous school districts about 18 of them, I think. We hit this past year for health and physical education in regards to infusing the practices within the framework, so, yeah, it's been busy. It's been great, though, because seeing the teachers and having conversations with them are where it's at. For me, it's definitely. I love that face-to-face contact, absolutely.
Jake:So what makes MAHPERD unique, in the sense of not necessarily comparing to other organizations, but just ourselves? I mean, I know I could talk about our advocacy network, which we'll talk about later, but what do you think makes us stand out, maybe for some other folks?
Maria:Yes and great question. All I can tell you is that it feels like a second family. When I walk into a board meeting, when I walk into a professional development event, we have people that we know, we know their lives, we know their families and everyone can say, oh geez, well, you're a business, you're an organization, but it's much more than that for me. You're an organization, but it's much more than that for me. We're unique because we treat each other with kindness, respect and we agree to disagree. And there are some times on our board where we bring forth issues and people will abstain or they'll vote, or they'll vote no or yes, right, and there'll sometimes be discussions where they're very, very not heated, but passionate.
Maria:I love that because I walk away learning so much from that person's perspective. And so agreeing to disagreeing is extremely healthy, and once we do that and we lay it out on the table, people are just really kind with one another and really care about each other and want to know more behind the scenes after that board meeting or after that discussion at a professional development event. And I love that because I think that's the only way that we can move forward to make the educational process for our disciplines more fruitful and more viable.
Jake:I agree with you, I think, being transparent and, like you mentioned earlier, the family atmosphere where we know about each other. We can lay out our cards on the table and it's okay if we disagree, but ultimately, what's our end goal? What are we trying to do? How are we going to move forward from whatever the challenge or barrier might be? So I agree 100%. So, maria, next question In your work with stakeholders and other professionals that you work with, what are some common questions you get in regards to health, physical education?
Maria:Yeah, boy, right off the bat I would say well, "my kid plays athletics, you know is an athlete. Why should they need physical education? You know my daughter takes skating lessons after school for physical activity. Why should she take physical education? Kids don't need health education at the elementary level. Why do we need to hire folks at that level to do that? Why do we need a licensed health educator to teach physical education? Or vice versa? If my physical educator is teaching health ed, well then that's fine with me. So there's a lot. It's not only for the stakeholders but it's also for the parents. We have to try to have these conversations that educate them on the parameters of why their children need the best, the best of the best.
Maria:If you go to a doctor's office and the first thing you're going to be looking at are the diplomas on the walls, I guarantee you because I know I did Right where are they from? Where did they study? What was their experience? What was their journey? You know all of that, but no one ever asked that. Oh, the physical educator, no one ever asked that of the health educator. And I mean you don't want a plumber as your child's physician. I certainly don't, and that's what. That's the comparison I use. And then the parents nod, they smile and they understand. And for anyone?
Jake:So it sounds like a lot of. It's like maybe correcting some misinformation or just informing them of what truly does happen and why it's so important to have a license. You can't just have anybody teaching health or physical education. We went to school for this, we're certified, we're qualified, we have all the kinesiology courses and the research based courses, right? So I think some people aren't aware of that, and so it's good to inform them of that, right?
Maria:So Absolutely and it's, and it comes down to myth versus fact all the time. You know, and we have this image problem, jake, where the experiences that the parents had years ago, they think it's the same. I think it's the physical educator is the baseball hat with the whistle around you know your neck and you know you don't do anything and you're, you know you're just asking the kids to do things that you wouldn't do. That's totally not the case.
Jake:Definitely not.
Maria:Goes much deeper than that.
Jake:And that's why I mean this is just a bit of it why it's so important to have a quality health and physical education experience, because these students who we teach, they grow up and they become potentially these decision makers right, and they become in positions of authority. You want them to have a positive experience, not just because it's healthy, but also just so they can live an active, healthy lifestyle, become physically and health literate. So, yeah, definitely. Become physically and health literate so, yeah, definitely. So, maria, just we're skipping a bit, a little bit around here, but we're going to talk about your role as professor at Bridgewater State University. Tell us about that. What do you teach? What are your students learning over there? How's that going?
Maria:Oh, my gosh. You know, besides my family and MAHPERD, another joy in my life was when I was asked over 15 years ago to teach a course there, I was thrilled because I had felt that I have come full circle. You know, graduating there Gosh, I'm dating myself now 42 years ago Jake has been just one of the things in my life that I am very, very proud of to serve my university, and I love it too, because what it does is it forms this bridge between the state organization and the student population at Bridgewater.
Maria:So if I'm teaching the future teachers in physical education right in the kinesiology department, then what I can also say to them is hey, this is your state organization and this is what we do. So now I'm wearing two hats in the classroom when I'm explaining what MAPRD is. My colleagues who are our chair, karen Richardson, and then Deb Sheehy and Misty Nuetzling all of them are also members of our board, who are very much involved with the other professors from the other colleges and universities in the state, and so we put it in the syllabi which is great so that you know the students can actually come to the professional development events to experience what it's like to have those face-to-face conversations and it does. It's just a wonderful bridge to have to bring people into the professions and then, when they become a professional, to serve. As you and I have right, we were students once and here we are serving, so it's a it's a great feeling.
Jake:Great opportunity to have the students see their professors. As you mentioned, board members they're still involved. We're not, we're, we're, we're trying to, we're practicing what we preach in essence, right, we're out there, we're doing the behind the scenes work and I know the professors you mentioned. They're always at the board meetings. They're working very hard, tirelessly, not only at the college level but also, you know, going to student speak out day and other events that we might have, going to the conferences and taking students with them. So it's really a great um, a great opportunity. So, maria, as an organization, mayford works with many partners. Many different people tell our listeners about who some of our partners are and how do we build and maintain those relationships year after year.
Maria:Yeah.
Maria:So when I first came on board, I knew that this was a love of mine, was to form coalitions and collaborate with many like-minded organizations, and so we have just had some wonderful experiences with the Mass PTA, with the Mass School Nurses Organization, with S and S supply company, Safe Bay, the Mental Health Collaborative, you name it.
Maria:We have about 17 partners right now in the state of Massachusetts and and I'm just, I just actually signed on two more today, so I'm going to make that official as well in a couple of days. But you know it's it's something that you can't do things alone, can't isolate yourself as an organization and think that you can get things done, and we have helped all these organizations. If they had legislative bills at the state house, and I would come in and sign a letter as well, or go to the state house and buy for a certain bill, so we help each other out and, um, that's what I love about coalitions, um, because we're all here for the same goal and that's to help students k through 12 period yeah, so it sounds like it's a win-win.
Jake:We're we're helping them, they're helping us, we're advocating on their behalf, they're advocating on our behalf. And how does? Just to get a little more nitty gritty, how do you approach these potential partners? Do you seek them online? Do they reach out to you? Do they? You know what's it? What's kind of like the essence of it. Is there an email sent? This is what we offer, this is what we're all about. And then there's a conversation. Can you talk a little bit about that Like? How does it like from the, from the ground up?
Maria:Well, sure, you know, we've had events center around certain things.
Maria:I'm trying to think like the mass brain injury association and we had an event that where all the proceeds had gone to them, one of our golf tournaments and, um, it was very near and dear to our hearts because a great friend of ours, someone who actually served with our board, um, had had a tbi, uh, traumatic brain injury, and so, um, it's through those events that we say to ourselves oh my gosh, you know, we should really get this, these folks on board, which they are.
Maria:So you know, I also go out on the internet and I look for folks that are like-minded and I give them a call, and it could be as simple as that. I think about also the decision makers in the state, the Mass Superintendents Association I am presenting again this coming October a three-day workshop on academics and physical education and so any decision makers, like I said, the PTA, the nurses, the superintendents, the principals, legislators who have come on board with us and have sponsored events. So it's those kinds of things that you know when you look to other organizations to to see how they can be utilized for our students in Massachusetts and our teachers. That's where you know, I make those connections and then we help them, which is, you know, of course, better. It has to be a 50 50 relationship.
Jake:Right.
Maria:I don't like things one sided, so I'm always reaching out saying how can we help you? Right, that's cause, that's important.
Jake:Right, so that's kind of your personality too, right You're. So what can I do to help other people? Right, that's awesome, that's what we love about you. So let's talk a little bit about the advocacy network that Mayford has. We have different regions in Massachusetts, right you know? Essex, Middlesex. Can you explain to our listeners what this advocacy network is and what you've done with it and why it's so important, not only to Mayford but to our members and just the greater community?
Maria:Sure members and just a greater community, sure. So we have our membership list and we have about 2,500 members at this point, which is huge.
Maria:But I also wanted to bring back this advocacy network that we had in the mid 1990s when we were fighting the mandate for Massachusetts on PE 1990s, when we were fighting the mandate for Massachusetts on PE. And so basically, in the state of Mass there are five major regions and I know you and I, together as you, as advocates, had reached out to five individuals that had come up and said, you know, we'd love to be involved, or we asked them and they were, you know, thrilled that we, you know, to be involved. So each one of those five are in charge of a region. So we have Susan, and then Megan, and Megan, brittany and Jody, who all stepped up this past year and we had actually made lists for over 100 folks on each list Excel sheet of like minded organizations in each of those regions and so so let's say, you know the Mass PTA, for instance, they might have a contact out in Greenfield area in Western Mass, where the Boston area has someone totally different, or just small organizations out there that are nonprofits, that are like-minded and would like to know about us.
Maria:You know we got YMCAs and you know nonprofit fitness centers, folks who need it, etc. So once we have the update from me, which is every month, then they take that update and they send it out to those folks they're in charge and then they answer any questions. We'll be sending out this coming year a needs survey to those individuals and we'll ask them you know what are your needs, how can we help you? And then maybe go a step further. So we're looking into building more in the next, in the next few years, which is really extraordinary, because that's that's you have to start somewhere.
Jake:Right right.
Maria:And then build up from there. But that's important to make those relationships.
Jake:Definitely, and I think the other part about this, too, is that we're reaching all areas of Massachusetts. We're not focusing on, you know, central Mass or one region. So having this network allows us to do this, and so I think that's another key component of the advocacy network and why it's so important. So you know, thank you for explaining that, maria, of the advocacy network and why it's so important. So you know, thank you for explaining that, maria. So we're moving on with the interview. What do you hope to see in the future? What type of goals do you have? These could be either personal or professional.
Maria:Yeah, I would just hope to continue ensuring that teachers feel supported in classrooms, whether it be health or physical education or dance programs, going on in education and dispel the rumors and the myths, because there's so much misinformation, like we had talked about earlier. So my goal is to continue educating people, period, no matter who they are, whether a parent or a professional. They're someone from a school, community, school committees. It takes a village and I think that that is my major goal is to just continue on that road, because you really can't get anything done until everyone understands what you're really talking about. Right?
Jake:That makes sense I mean come on.
Maria:I mean you can't get anything done without people understanding the facts.
Jake:Right. Supporting our teachers, supporting our students. You know how can we continue to ensure our students are getting quality health and physical education? So great stuff. My next question is two pronged. One is why is it so important to get involved with the state health and PE association, and also we have a pretty active board that's active behind the scenes. So you could answer that however you want. But again, why is it important to get involved with our state health and PE association or involved with Mayford, and do we have an active board that does a lot? Can we talk a little bit about that?
Maria:That's a big question, that's a loaded question, but I love it. I would say that knowledge is power, a good power, a good power, and I mean that in every sense of the uh, the word, and it's a knowledge, is a priority, and when a professional is a member of our association, they will never become stagnant. I can promise you that there's too much that we offer and too much for them to see and to experience, and I know right now we're coming up to it's a different generation. At this point I don't want to sound like my grandparents, but it really is.
Maria:I mean, we did not grow up in a tech age and now there's this thinking out there that we could do everything online, online right, and honestly, we cannot. You cannot, um understand another human being without the face-to-face conversation. You can never understand another human being without seeing social cues, without without sitting down and having that eye contact or a handshake. It means everything, and so I think when people become members of our association, they understand the importance of that, and I know people that hadn't been back to Mayfair for 25, 30 years and they came back this past convention and they were saying, maria, this is like I can't believe I haven't been back here. I'm so glad to be back. I'm like well, welcome back.
Maria:You know, no judgment, no judgment, because we don't know anybody's journey right.
Maria:So, so I would also say, on the other end, not to the professionals, but also to the students you know, when you become a member of your Health and Physical Education Association, you are basically on your way to becoming a leader. There is absolutely no way I could have even imagined as a sophomore at Bridgewater that I would be in this role right now. It's just I was my professor, joanne Smith, said you're coming with me. I'm like, where are we going? She says well, you're going to sign up right now. You're going to be a member of Maybird and you're going to help me out with the National APED Convention. And I want you to meet Joe McKinney, who's our executive director, and it's next week and I need you there.
Maria:And I was there and I met him and he's now, you know, obviously, god rest his soul. He's the one that we have our highest honor award in, you know, named after. So I had the honor of, and the privilege of, meeting him, and, and so I never knew that this would take me down a role of leadership, to be this involved, and it's been a wonderful journey I can't even say that enough. And it still remains. So I know it's. I have a lot more years left, that's, that's for sure. You know, I still feel like I'm 17 up here, all right.
Jake:That's good, that's what, that's what matters, right? It's how you feel, how you feel inside.
Maria:So I would definitely encourage students to become members, even after A lot of them are now, but even after they get into the field to stay that way, to stay involved, because the more you're involved, the more you learn.
Jake:Absolutely, I would agree 100%. I mean the conferences that Mayford offers and the PD opportunities. You're learning from other people, but for me, it's about seeing the different perspectives. I mean, I only have my own opinion right, we all have our own opinion but when you can be in a room and see what other people are working with or who they're, who they're working with and how they you know how they teach some instructional strategies and whatever it might be, whatever the topic might be, it's so enlightening. You know, it definitely expanded my mind when I go to these events. So so that's great. So I think the overarching message is get involved, stay involved, um, connect with people. Uh, face to face, um and um, you know, just kind of put yourself out there. You know it doesn't, it's only going to help, right?
Maria:That's right, that's right, and you know I say that everyone has a lot to give everyone. There isn't one person on the face of this earth that does not have a skill or a talent. And you know, some of my students say well, you know, I'm just learning, I don't have. I'm like no people can learn from you. I've learned from you, I learn from you every single day in the classroom, and that's what I said at the beginning is like you never stop learning.
Maria:They're always going to be showing you something, and so everyone has something to give, and I would definitely venture out and with their skills and talents, I always tell them please share them, because that's what teaching is all about. We're not stealing anything. We're sharing.
Jake:Absolutely.
Maria:And we do that all the time, like, hey, I like that lesson plan. Or hey, how did you write that assessment up? And everyone I'm hearing this talk all the time at all the events and it's wonderful that people just put it out there on the table and go, yeah, here and give me your email and I'll just email you everything I have. So you know, people are only too happy to help.
Jake:That's great. That's great, and I know some conversations that I've heard. You've helped countless people with their not only their professional lives, but their personal lives as well. So you know, when you build those connections, you can just easily say, okay, johnny, johnny or Susie needs help here, get in touch with so-and-so right. So it's just, you know it's so important to build those connections. So, maria, as we come to a conclusion for the interview, how can our listeners connect with you, mayford, over Facebook or email? What's the best way to reach out if folks have questions?
Maria:Sure. So my email is maria@ ma-hperd. org. My phone number is 508-794-1338. And then we are updating our website this summer, but our Instagram we are on Instagram, facebook and LinkedIn.
Maria:Facebook is M-A-H-P-E-R-D.
Maria:And our LinkedIn is M-A-H-P-E-R-D.
Jake:And folks for those listening. You didn't have to write that all down because they'll be linked in the show notes. I'll make sure they're up there. So thank you, maria. So there's several different ways to reach out, get involved and just stay involved with this great organization. Well, thank you for sharing that, maria. Thank you for sharing your experience and expertise with us. It's been great to have you Listeners. If you have any questions, you can always email us at mayfordpodcast at gmailcom. We'll have this episode uploaded soon. Also, we're asking our listeners to leave a review if this podcast has been helpful in supporting you in any way, as it does help other folks find it. Thank you all for listening. Have a great week and we will be back soon. Thanks, maria.
Maria:Thank you, Jake, for having me really appreciate it.
