Linda M. Carson, Ed. D.
Ware Distinguished Professor

BIO

Dr. Carson is the Ware Distinguished Professor at West Virginia University and the Director of the WV Motor Development Center. Professor Carson has many years of teaching experience and expertise in childhood motor development.


Professor Carson has developed award winning physical activity programs for infants, babies, toddlers, pre-school, and elementary school age children in both land-based and water-based learning environments, earning recognition for involving family members as play partners. The signature feature of Dr. Carson's play programs is a character named Choosy who promotes healthy decision making by children and grownups.


Dr. Carson is recognized for designing innovative children’s programs with a focus on healthy living and active learning. Dr Carson is the lead trainer for an obesity prevention initiative for the national Office of Head Start. The Head Start project gained national recognition recently as the recipient of the 2006 ACF Honor Award for Excellence in Partnering from DHHS. Professor Carson is also on the leadership team of WV Games for Health, a series of statewide projects that have utilized total body video games to enhance the physical activity levels of children, as well as monitor the health benefits of active video game playing. The WV Games for Health project is providing teacher training and DDR equipment for every school in the state of West Virginia.

Patricia A. Kimbrell, M. Ed.

BIO

Patricia A. Kimbrell, M. Ed., B.A. in Physical Education, from San Diego State University, has been working in education for over 24 years. She is faculty at San Diego State University where she instructs future teachers in elementary physical education. She began her own consulting business in 2004 and consults for such agencies as: The Office of Head Start, Navajo Nation (Head Start), New York State Department of Health (WIC), California State Department of Health Services (WIC) and presents around the country on early childhood physical activity and is on the national training team for I Am Moving, I Am Learning, a childhood obesity prevention initiative from The Office of Head Start. She wrote and directed a physical activity video, titled Have Fun and Be Active for the First Five Commission of Contra Costa County WIC which received two awards. She has authored several early childhood physical activity programs, including Smart Moves!, Quick Play and SPARK Early Childhood Physical Activity Program. She has collaborated and consulted on several research projects. She advocates that young children need to explore new situations that will develop movement skills and strengthen early brain development. If an appreciation for movement and healthful eating is developed at an early age, it may continue for a lifetime of wellness!

Kerry McKenzie, M.S. in P.E., B.A. in Psychology

BIO

Kerry McKenzie, M.S., in Physical Education and Health from West Virginia University and B.A. in Psychology from Wheeling Jesuit University, has been working in education for over 9 years. Kerry was a clinical instructor in the Physical Education Department at West Virginia University for several years where she instructed future teachers in physical education and early childhood motor development. She was the lead teacher and assisted in the development of award winning physical activity programs for infants, babies, toddlers, pre-school and elementary school age children in both land-based and water-based learning environments. In addition, Kerry was the Program Coordinator of the Motor Development Center and the co-creator of a character named Choosy who promotes healthy decision making by children and grownups. She continues to develop materials for Choosy Kids, LLC and is on the I am Moving I am Learning national training team. Kerry currently resides in Pickens, SC and works at Greenville Hospital System Children's Hospital as the Special Project Coordinator for the Children's Advocacy Department. Children's Advocacy is responsible for community outreach, partnership development, government relations, injury prevention programs, prevention of childhood obesity, and abuse. She advocates that young children need ample opportunities to move and learn about healthy lifestyles so they will acquire healthy habits at an early age.

Joseph Smith

BIO

Joseph “Joe Gym” Smith is an enthusiastic speaker who practices visionary pedagogy for students living in a sedentary society. His educational experiences span 28 years, and include schools in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, rural West Virginia, and Parkersburg WV in Title I schools. He currently teaches at Vienna Elementary School in Vienna WV. He became a National Board Certified Teacher for Physical Education in Early and Middle Childhood in 2004. His peers selected him as the Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year in West Virginia for 2003. He was recognized as the Wood County Teacher of the Year for 2009-10 and was a West Virginia State Finalist for Teacher of the Year in 2009-10. He earned a Master of Arts in PETE (Physical Education Teacher Education) at West Virginia University in 2002. Joe has a broad understanding of curriculum across many subject areas. His diversified qualifications include specializations and classroom teaching experience in Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Physical Education in Pre-K and grades K- 9. As a presenter for reform in Physical Education, he presents at local, regional, state level workshops in reading, early childhood, and physical education. Joe shares current and useful activities with teachers from the perspective of an everyday practitioner.


He is a certified trainer for NASPE for Physical Best programs and currently serves on the NASPE Physical Education Steering Committee. He shares how to be a lifetime learner with the most current practices and resources.

Brandon Williams

BIO

Brandon Williams has a Masters Degree in Child Development and Family Studies from West Virginia University. He has an undergraduate teaching degree in Physical Education Teaching and Health Education. Brandon has been working with young children for many years in a variety of settings. While at WVU, he was a teacher in the WV Motor Development Center. In this capacity, he taught physical activity classes for toddlers, preschool, and elementary school age children. He was the lead teacher for the Center’s award winning programs, KinderSkills and Choosy Kids Club. He was also a counselor for the popular summer day camp program, Camp Choosy.

Brandon has also worked in center-based preschool programs. He was employed by Morgantown Early Learning Facility as a classroom teacher and volunteered with the WVU Nursery School. He also has earned a 3-star Director’s certificate.

Brandon is a featured member of the I am Moving, I am Learning national training team and a consultant for Choosy Kids, LLC. He has presented both the MVPA and Movement Vocabulary workshops in many training events across the country designed for Head Start, child care, WIC, and public health. Brandon also has made many special appearances at schools, centers, health events, conferences, and training events as the popular character, Choosy, bringing much needed health messages to communities, families, children, and the staff who serve them.