Lisa Blanchard
Lisa Blanchard earned her degree in Exercise Science in December 2006 with the intention of becoming a physical therapist. She’d even gotten a job as a strength and conditioning coach at NAU. But coaching led her to teaching, so she headed back to school and earned her Masters in Education from NAU in 2009. While serving as a waitress at Olive Garden in Flagstaff, she was struck by a conversation with a principal from Vail. One thing led to another, and Lisa completed student teaching with PE teachers at Cienega High School in Vail and earned a teaching certificate in Physical Education.
Mrs. Blanchard’s first teaching job was at Painted Sky Elementary in the Amphitheater School District teaching PE. She loved it, but was recruited through to teach Healthcare Foundations, Anatomy, and Sports Medicine at Rio Rico High School a year later where she was first introduced to JTED. In her 5th year at Andrada, she is proud to see her students leaving high school with national certification as personal trainers – some of whom are hired right out of high school. Students in Lisa’s classes must be prepared for life in the profession. Students are on a rotation of management of Andrada’s fitness center including equipment set up and maintenance, inventory, and supply. They are constantly learning how to do all of the pieces required in personal training and are engaged in hands on learning that will give them employability skills.
Mrs. Blanchard also serves as the HOSA Club Sponsor where members compete in healthcare skills, the sponsor of the sports medicine club, and director of NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) test preparation club on campus. When she’s not knee deep in serving at her school, she can be found participating in charity runs including mud runs, color runs, and reindeer runs. And, she is heavily involved in the Pima County JTED Strategic Planning Committee preparing for JTED success across Pima County.
.
