Developing a Staff Physical Activity Program at Your School: Implementing the Lesser-used Component of the CSPAP Model

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explore staff physical activity programs in the school setting, describe a viable option for a staff walking program in an elementary school, and determine elementary school staff members' participation and perceptions in one such program. Previous research has shown that placing a focus on staff involvement and staff wellness can contribute to the overall physical activity culture of a school and shows increased support for student physical activity participation. This article first describes the comprehensive school physical activity program as one model for coordinated school health. Second, it discusses staff programming in nontraditional organizations, such as schools. Third, it presents the possible steps schools can take to plan and implement a staff physical activity program, and provides an example of a school-staff program in Arizona along with the outcomes from the program.