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She’s taught at
Duncanville High School for the past four years, but Krystal Morrow is
now beginning a new chapter in her career. She has taken over the
Partners Physical Education class at DHS – a job Krystal says she has
wanted for quite some time. “I’ve been begging for this for years. I
love working with children with disabilities. It’s something that I am
truly passionate about.”
Partners PE is a course offered to Duncanville juniors and seniors. In
the class, students with disabilities are paired with “partners” who
help them run, jump rope, play basketball, dance, etc. Getting to
assist classmates with disabilities is a privilege for those students
who pass the application and interview process. But Partners PE
doesn’t only benefit the athletes involved. “It’s a great experience
for everyone,” Morrow explained. “The students in special education
classes have a chance to get out, have fun, and meet people they might
not otherwise see. Their partners get a chance to learn new leadership
skills, feel good about themselves, and gain an appreciation for the
little things in life.”
This is the second year for Partners PE classes at the high school,
and colleagues say that Morrow’s new leadership is changing the
program for the better. “She took the kids on their first field trip,”
commented teacher Jessica Perez-Woodrum. “Krystal goes above and
beyond to get her students included in everyday activities.”
Activities like going to the mall – that’s where Morrow took nearly
100 athletes and partners last semester – or the Dallas Zoo, where a
second field trip is planned for later this school year. Krystal’s
also responsible for the first-ever Partners PE Appreciation Night
that took place at a football game last semester, as well as an
inaugural Halloween dance contest. “I want to give these students some
new experiences,” she explained. “If I touch just one kid’s life, then
my job is done.”
But she’s touched more than just one life. According to Krystal, she’s
seeing ten times as many partners apply for the program. “Last
semester, only seven students signed up and I had to recruit the rest.
This semester, I had 170 applications including almost all of the
previous partners.” The increase in numbers and devotion could be a
result of lasting relationships formed between these groups of
students. “When one of our athletes ended up in the hospital,”
explained Morrow, “all of the partners signed a Get Well banner, and
his buddy even paid him a visit.”
However, despite signs of improvement Krystal’s not done making
changes to the program. “This is just the beginning. We’re still in
the building and learning phase.” She wants to build a bigger budget
for class equipment, and is currently working on a grant proposal.
Morrow also wants to build greater Partners PE awareness throughout
the DHS campus and surrounding community. But most of all, Krystal
wants her students to learn that “it’s okay to be different. Everyone
is not the same.”
Because Krystal Morrow is improving both the physical, mental, and
emotional skills of Duncanville ISD students, she was chosen as this
month’s “Red and Blue – Is It In You?” feature. If you know someone
else who is helping to make our district great, nominate them for next
month’s column - email their name and information to news@duncanvilleisd.org.
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