Norris Educators Dudley, Hansmeyer invited to National Healthy Schools Forum in Little Rock to Receive Award for Increasing Healthy Eating and Physical ActivityThe Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, will recognize Norris High School and Norris Elementary for transforming into a healthier place for students and staff. Norris Elementary teacher Torey Dudley and Norris HS Teacher Jane Hansmeyer have been invited to represent their schools at the annual national Healthy Schools Forum to be held June 12th and 13th in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dudley has been instrumental in promoting the adoption of routine physical activity breaks in the Elementary and promoting healthy snacking in the classroom and healthy foods for classroom celebrations. Hansmeyer has led the HS Student Council in partnering with Food Service and changing vending in the HS. Hansmeyer is also the chair of the School Wellness Council and in that role has published a weekly newsletter for staff encouraging staff members to be healthy role models for their students. The newsletter includes healthy, easy-prep recipes, helpful health factoids, and advice on incorporating exercise routines into staff members' busy personal lives.To earn this award, the HS and Elementary schools revamped meals service and physical activity programs and health education to meet or exceed stringent standards set by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, which provides expert advice and free resources to more than 12,000 schools nationwide to help them reverse the national trend in childhood obesity. Norris Elementary and Norris HS are National Recognition Award winners who join just 274 other schools that are receiving this honor for their healthy achievements.“We commend the dedication of our healthy schools for their efforts to offer students and staff nutritious meals and a variety of physical activity opportunities,” said Ginny Ehrlich, chief executive officer of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “Their success proves that despite academic pressures and budget constraints, schools can develop environments that foster healthy lifestyles.”“I am proud of what the Norris District has accomplished in promoting student health,” said Norris Superintendent Dr. John Skretta. “We have stayed close to the tenets of the policy adopted by our Board back in 2006 emphasizing the fundamentally important roles of physical activity and nutrition education in improving educational outcomes.” Skretta was named a Healthy Schools Champion by the Alliance in 2010 and was invited to attend this year's forum as a speaker on an expert panel that includes Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.In addition to the Healthy Schools Program, the Alliance brokers and implements voluntary agreements with industry leaders to provide young people better access to healthier foods, beverages, physical activity and healthcare. In January 2011, the Alliance announced new multi-industry voluntary agreements that brought together leading food manufacturers, group purchasing organizations and technology companies to help America’s schools serve healthier meals at more affordable prices. As a result of these agreements, more than 30 million students across the country will have access to healthier school meals – including at least 14 million students who currently participate in the free and reduced lunch program.The Healthy Schools Program is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Any school in the U.S. can enroll and receive free assistance and support to become a healthier place for students to learn and staff to work. Norris' Relationship Manager through the Alliance is Norris district parent Shannon Vogler, who assists schools throughout the state in realizing Healthy Schools program goals.