Kudos for P.E. Teacher
Wearing Cardinal and Gold in Olympia, Wash.
Although Greg Bert graduated from USC in 1980, the award-winning
physical education teacher wears his alumnus colors nearly everyday.
“I’m probably the only guy up in Olympia, Washington who you’ll see
wearing something in cardinal and gold most days of the week,” he said.
“Not many Trojans up here.”
Bert, who has been teaching P.E. for 26 years, says he owes much of his
success to USC’s former physical education major program, which has
since been dismantled. However, USC’s Physical Education Program, which
offers a variety of fitness and activities classes, is in place.
Bert, who teaches physical education and coaches the girls and boys
tennis teams at Black Hills High School in Olympia, Wash., has earned
several high honors for teaching over the years.
Last year, he became a National Board Certified Teacher in Early
Adolescence Young Adulthood in Physical Education — the highest level
of achievement for teachers. Bert also received the 2004 High School
Teacher of the Year Award, given by the Washington Alliance for Health,
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Bert, 50, earned his master’s degrees in physical education and
education administration from California State University, Los Angeles.
He began teaching the year he graduated from USC.
“The day that I student-taught,” Bert said, “I was fully prepared and
felt like I had been teaching physical education for years.”
In 1990, Bert moved to South Sound, Wash. and joined the faculty at
Black Hills when it opened in 1997. He’s married with three children.
He credited much of his professional success to his USC professors and instructors Bob Girandola, Ruth Sparhawk and Jim Toman.
“To this day, I am in gratitude for their training and guidance,” he said.
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