"The monitors allow me to teach objectively, differentiate instruction, and support assessment and grading with real data," says LaShonda Cameron, Secondary Lead PE Teacher at Kerr High School in Alief ISD. "They also provide concrete evidence to advocate for my physical education program." Her heart rate monitor program had been running strong for more than 10 years. Then the hardware started showing its age. LaShonda Cameron has built and managed a data-driven PE program around IHT heart rate monitors for over a decade. Thanks to the color-coded heart rate zones on the monitors, her students see exactly how hard they're working and connect that effort to their long-term health. When her district provided new Spirit monitors, one piece was still missing: a tablet to run the IHT Classroom App. So she applied for a grant through the Alief ISD Education Foundation… And won. Her advice for educators who want to fund a program like hers: ✅ Go for it. If the need is there, apply. The worst anyone can say is no. ✅ Look within your own district first. Many districts have education foundations that teachers overlook. ✅ Connect your request to student outcomes, not just equipment needs. ✅ Ask for support and embrace opportunities. Read the full story of how she got funding and how her school and students benefit from the Spirit System: ihtusa.com/iht-blog/how-a-te… #PhysicalEducation #PETeachers #EdTech #StudentWellness #HeartRateMonitors

The fittest students in America won't necessarily win your school up to $1 million. But the most improved students might. Here's why: On October 1, HHS launched the Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge, a $10 million prize competition rewarding schools and youth organizations that put the Presidential Fitness Test into practice, motivate students to improve their fitness and help them build healthy habits. Prizes range from $1,000 to a $1 million grand prize, and entries are due February 5, 2027. Haven't run the PFT yet? You still have time if you start now. Our brand-new Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge guide for PE educators covers everything PE educators need to know: including who's eligible, what judges are really looking for, and a month-by-month plan to get you from the first test to the final entry. Read the guide: ihtusa.com/iht-blog/presiden… #PresidentialFitnessTest #PhysicalEducation #PEteachers #PhysEdTeacher

Some of your students walk into class carrying something heavy. And you may never know by looking. Anxiety doesn't always look like anxiety. Sometimes it looks like a kid who "won't focus." Sometimes it looks like a meltdown "out of nowhere." Sometimes it looks like silence. Students often can't name what they're feeling until it's already overwhelming them. But their heart rate tells the story, because heart rate is one of the clearest biomarkers of how we're feeling. The wrist-based IHT Spirit heart rate monitor turns that signal into colors that students can understand at a glance: 💙Blue: calm 💛Yellow: excited, nervous, or frustrated ❤️Red: angry or overwhelmed When students can see what's happening inside, they can learn to regulate instead of react. That's a skill they carry from your classroom to the lunchroom to the dinner table. This #WorldMentalHealthDay, let's help every kid see what they feel. Support student emotional health by turning the invisible visible with the IHT Spirit System. Learn more: ihtusa.com/heart-rate-monito… #StudentWellness #ChildWellness #MentalHealth

Depending on your process, fitness testing can be a lot of work. Especially if you have to retype hundreds of scores, check them against benchmarks, send emails to families, and build reports for admin. So what's the best way to record fitness assessment scores? We compared paper, spreadsheets, and software on what matters most to PE teachers: time, accuracy, insight, and security. See how they stack up in our latest blog post (link below). Spoiler: the clipboard doesn't win. 😅 With the IHT Spirit Assessment Software, you can: ✅Enter each score once on a tablet, laptop, or computer ⏱️Start one built-in digital stopwatch for the whole class, then tap each student's name as they finish 📊Compare results to national benchmarks automatically 📈Track every student's growth from fall to spring and year to year 🗂️Create custom reports in seconds for a student, class, school, or your whole district 📨Share data with students and families in a couple of clicks It works with whatever assessment your state or district uses, whether that's the Presidential Fitness Test or your own custom measures. Paper, spreadsheet, or software: What are you using this year? Tell us below! 👇 📖Read the full comparison: ihtusa.com/iht-blog/best-way… #FitnessTests #FitnessAssessments #PresidentialFitnessTest #PhysEd #PETeacher #FitnessTesting #PEtech #EdTech

This year, October 5th is a two-for-one kind of day. 🍎 ❤️ It's both World Teachers' Day and National Child Health Day today, but when you think about it, the two go hand in hand. Educators help kids build healthy brains, healthy bodies, and healthy habits that last long after the school bell rings. From PE teachers and adapted PE teachers to counselors and special ed teams, educators support the whole child, body and mind. And that's exactly why teachers love the IHT Spirit System. Its wrist-based heart rate monitors help them understand both physical effort and emotional regulation, so every student is seen and supported. To every educator championing healthier kids: Thank you. Today is for you and the students you show up for. #WorldTeachersDay #NationalChildHealthDay #ChildHealth #TeacherAppreciation #HealthyKids #IHT #EdTech

What would change in your school if students could see their own physical effort, stress, and emotional regulation in real time? That’s exactly what our Spirit System was built to do. Let’s talk: ihtusa.com/start-a-conversat…

Happy #WorldHeartDay! ❤️ Here's a number every educator, parent, and any adult who works with kids should know: fewer than 1 in 4 kids ages 6 to 17 get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Heart health habits start in childhood, and a child's heart rate is one of the clearest windows we have into how active, engaged, and healthy they really are. The challenge? You can't improve what you can't see. That's why schools, therapists, and families use the IHT Spirit System. The Spirit monitor shows kids their heart rate on their wrists, in real-time, turning an invisible number into something they can understand, act on, and feel proud of. Afterward, the data syncs to the Spirit Software Suite so that progress can be tracked over time. Empower students. Make informed decisions. Turn heartbeats into meaningful insights. Learn more at ihtusa.com #IHT #HeartHealth #PhysicalEducation #StudentWellness #EdTech

What does it feel like when a student who never cared about PE gets excited about it? Every PE teacher knows those students. The ones who don’t see the point and don’t value physical education the way their teacher does. For Kalani Hobayan, CAHPERD Elementary PE Teacher of the Year, watching those students light up in PE is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Not because they were told to participate, but because they WANT to. That kind of intrinsic motivation and complete buy-in is exactly what great teachers work to build. The right kind of education technology can help teachers accomplish this. Michelle Baumgartner, Pomona Unified's District PE Teacher Specialist, appreciates the Spirit System because the focus remains on the students: helping them become more engaged, understand their own health, and discover that movement can be meaningful and enjoyable. With the Spirit System, students can see their heart rate right on their wrist, so effort becomes something they understand and own. And that's when motivation begins to come from within. Watch Kalani and Michelle share what it feels like when a student goes from unmotivated to fully engaged. 👇 BE YOUR SCHOOL'S HERO. Learn more about our edtech: ihtusa.com #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PhysicalEducation #PEteacher

What happens when a great PE teacher gets the right tools? For Kalani Hobayan, CAHPERD Elementary PE Teacher of the Year, heart rate monitors completely changed the way he looked at physical activity for his students. That new perspective gave him the chance to step back and rethink how he approached PE altogether. And the biggest winners? His students. When Kalani brought the Spirit System to Pomona Unified, Michelle Baumgartner, the district's PE Teacher Specialist, saw something bigger than one teacher's success. She saw a tool every teacher in the district could use to strengthen PE instruction, boost student engagement, set attainable goals, and make physical education truly meaningful. One teacher found the right tool. And a whole district of students and educators benefit from it. Talk about a hero. 🦸 Watch Kalani and Michelle share how the right tools can turn a good teacher into a hero for their school. 👇 BE YOUR SCHOOL'S HERO. Learn more about our edtech: ihtusa.com #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PhysicalEducation #PEteacher

“The partnership with IHT has been probably one of the biggest positive attributes to help transform a quality physical education program.” – Kalani Hobayan, CAHPERD Elementary PE Teacher of the Year & Pomona Unified Elementary PE Teacher Why does objective heart rate data matter for a school? For Kalani, it comes down to knowing instead of guessing. With the Spirit System, his team can see exactly how many minutes students spend in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), so they know whether students are truly getting the activity they need. Heart rate data like this helps PE teachers guide instruction, supports equity by showing effort on an individual level, and gives district leaders meaningful data. Across roughly 3,800 students in Pomona Unified’s 24 elementary schools, MVPA averaged 55.6% in year one and grew to 58.2% in year two, both above the recommended 50% benchmark. 🎥 Watch Kalani explain why heart rate data has been a game changer for his program. BE YOUR SCHOOL’S HERO. #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PhysicalEducation #PEteacher

An answer given by California's Elementary PE Teacher of the Year will make you think about what school is really for. 👀 We asked Kalani Hobayan why it matters that kids don't only learn about fitness, but actually enjoy it. His answer goes way beyond the school gym. It's not about getting kids to run a mile, learn a sport, or do a certain number of push-ups. It's about what they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. BE YOUR SCHOOL’S HERO. 🎥 Watch now, then tell us: Who made YOU love being active? #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PhysicalEducation #PEteacher

Teacher burnout is real, and PE teachers aren't immune. So we asked Kalani Hobayan, California's Elementary PE Teacher of the Year, what he'd say to a teacher who feels stuck or burned out. His answer isn't a pep talk. He shares one simple question that changes how you look at your job, no matter where you teach. BE YOUR SCHOOL’S HERO. 🎥 Watch his advice, then tag a teacher who needs to hear it. #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PhysicalEducation #PEteacher

Michelle Baumgartner, Pomona Unified District PE Teacher Specialist, says that a teacher becomes a hero through what they accomplish. And in this video, she explains exactly why her colleague Kalani Hobayan fits that description. Kalani was named California AHPERD's 2026 Elementary PE Teacher of the Year, and his impact reaches far beyond one gym. Using the Spirit System across 24 elementary schools and about 3,800 students, Pomona Unified reached 58.2% of class time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by year two. 💪 Watch to hear Michelle share what sets Kalani apart, then tell us: Who's the hero at your school? Tag them in the comments 👇 #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PhysicalEducation #PEteacher

What makes an educator a hero for their school? 🦸 For Kalani Hobayan, California's Elementary PE Teacher of the Year, it started with stepping outside his comfort zone. 📽️ In this video, Kalani talks about why educators need to be willing to try something new, and how embracing technology is what led him to the IHT Spirit System. His message is simple: the right tool can make a real difference. And the results back him up. Using the Spirit System in all 24 of his district’s elementary schools (about 3,800 students), his district reached 58.2% of class time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by year two. 💪 BE YOUR SCHOOL’S HERO. What do you think makes an educator a hero? Tell us in the comments 👇 #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PhysicalEducation #PEteacher

A PE teacher becomes a hero for their school when ______? Kalani Hobayan, Elementary PE Teacher at Pomona Unified School District and California AHPERD's 2025-26 Elementary PE Teacher of the Year 🏆 discusses what he thinks it takes for a PE teacher to become a hero: the type of PE program they build, the student relationships, creating fun, and more. BE YOUR SCHOOL'S HERO. In your eyes, how does a PE teacher become a hero for their school? Tell us in the comments. #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech #PETeachers #PhysEd

“Something can be good, but can always be done better. That’s where that growth mindset is. Even when you feel confident in your approach, the PE environment is constantly evolving, and each group of students may learn, respond, and take away something different from the experience. So, always being able to adapt and learn different things, I think is one of the biggest attributes in the teaching profession.” – Kalani Hobayan, Elementary Physical Education Teacher at Pomona Unified School District, Part-Time Lecturer in the Kinesiology Department at Cal State Fullerton and California AHPERD's 2025-26 Elementary PE Teacher of the Year 🏆 That mindset shaped an equitable PE program for his Title 1 schools that increased student participation and enjoyment of PE. It also produced a system that gave educators actionable data and improved PE teachers' instruction. All because Kalani had the drive and dedication to find the right tool to get students moving – a tool made for educators that PE teachers would actually use. Last school year, all 18 PE teachers across Pomona Unified’s 24 elementary schools used the IHT Spirit System, and their classes averaged an impressive 58.2% of class time in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). That's what it looks like to be your school's hero. 💪 What makes a teacher a hero to you? 🎥 Check back tomorrow and the rest of the week for a series of videos where Kalani shares his tips and wisdom for his fellow PE teachers and all educators! #BeYourSchoolsHero #IHT #SpiritSystem #EdTech

The Presidential Fitness Test is returning to some U.S. schools. As states, districts, and schools determine how they will implement the updated assessments, IHT provides a proven system that turns assessment data into meaningful, actionable insights. Whether your school or district will be implementing the Presidential Fitness Test or other fitness assessments, learn more about our Fitness Assessment Software that can provide all educators with deep insights and trend analysis: ihtusa.com/presidential-fitn… #presidentialfitnesstest #PhysEd #PEGeeks

A statewide fitness challenge got a school a visit from the governor and a college basketball coach. That's the kind of energy that fitness testing can bring to a school community. As more states bring back the Presidential Fitness Test as a requirement, schools need an easy way to run it. That's where we come in. Our Fitness Assessment Software makes testing, scoring, and tracking simple. If your district is folding fitness testing into PE standards this year, we'd love to show you how easy it can be with the right software. Read the article: mhobserver.com/governor-cali… Learn more about our software solution: ihtusa.com/presidential-fitn… #presidentialfitnesstest

School counselors often hear about stress after it has already built up. What if you could identify patterns sooner? Heart rate data can help school counselors better understand emotional triggers, support regulation strategies, and strengthen student self-awareness. Better data. Better conversations. Better support. Learn more: ihtusa.com/start-a-conversat…

Fitness testing looks different from state to state and school to school – but the headache of tracking it shouldn't. Whether you're running the newly reinstated Presidential Fitness Test or another fitness assessment test, IHT's software is built to make it effortless. How IHT's Fitness Assessment Software helps PE educators: 📱 Log results in real time on any tablet or computer 📊 Built-in national norms, broken out by age and gender, so every score is measured automatically 📈 Track growth over a semester or throughout the years, not just one test day 🗂️ Instant, organized reports by student, class, campus, or district, ready whenever an administrator asks Testing week doesn't have to be a scramble. With the right software already handling the data, you get to spend your time teaching and enjoying what you do. 👉 Learn more about the IHT Fitness Assessment Software and discover how IHT can support your PE program: ihtusa.com/iht-blog/the-pres… #physicaleducation #presidentialfitnesstest #peteachers #k12wellness #edtech