The Essentials of Teaching Health Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Paperback - 2021

Sarah Sparrow Benes, EdD, CHES, received her EdD in curriculum and teaching from Boston University, her EdM in human movement from Boston University, and her BS in athletic training from the University of Connecticut. She is on track to earn her master's degree in public health in 2021. Sarah worked as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and an assistant athletic trainer at Boston University before transitioning to teaching full time and running the physical education and health education programs for six years. Dr. Benes is now at Merrimack College as an associate clinical professor in the School of Health Sciences. She has taught a range of courses, including curriculum and teaching methods, student teaching practicums, health education for elementary educators, health behavior theory, and introduction to public health. Dr. Benes developed and led the first short-term study abroad course in the School of Health Sciences, taking students to Scotland as part of a course comparing public health in the United States and abroad. Dr. Benes' research interests include skills-based health education, physical activity in the classroom, and enhancing school-based physical education and health education programming. Dr. Benes is currently on the board of SHAPE America and she has served as chair of the Health Education Council of SHAPE America. She has done curriculum development with many districts in Massachusetts, has conducted skills-based health education professional development across the country and internationally, and has written many health education presentations and publications. She currently lives in Natick, Massachusetts, with her husband, two daughters, and a yellow lab. She enjoys reading, hiking, and going on adventures with her family.

Holly Alperin, EdM, MCHES, is a clinical associate professor at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) and has over 20 years' experience in both public health and education. As a faculty member and program coordinator of the department of kinesiology's health and physical education teacher preparation program, she focuses on preparing preservice educators to teach using a skills-based approach. Prior to UNH, she worked at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in a variety of roles that supported schools in their efforts to strengthen policies and increase capacity around school health education and programs, school nutrition programs, and professional learning experiences for educators. Through her work at the local, state, national, and international levels she provides guidance to schools as they create a culture of health and well-being for each student--both in the health education classroom and throughout the school. Alperin is the past vice president of health education for New Hampshire Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, currently serves on the taskforce to revise the National Health Education Standards, and is the past-chair of the Health Education Council for SHAPE America, among other volunteer roles. Alperin received her master's in education in policy, planning, and administration from Boston University and her bachelor's degree in health education and health promotion from Central Michigan University. She holds the Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) credential. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two daughters. In her free time you can likely find her in the mountains or at the beach enjoying the best New England has to offer.