Cindy Hess McGarvey

Cindy Hess is a retired physical educator at Highland Elementary School in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Cindy has taught Health and Physical Education K-12 over her 35 year career. Her greatest success stories not only include the Action Based Learning Lab, but implementation of the “New PE” curriculum K-12 at Ephrata, as well as achieving daily physical education for students K-2 grade at Highland Elementary through her innovative curriculum design. Cindy has dedicated her career to improving the health and well being of her students and staff through active healthy lifestyles. Her innovative, creative ideas have revolutionized kindergarten Physical Education nation-wide. Originally called the SMART program Cindy created a program to prepare the early brain for learning by filling in developmental gaps. Cindy developed and organized the SMART program by combining physical education and brain research concepts. The program became the Action Based Learning Lab when Cindy and Jean Blaydes joined forces in 2004. Her expertise in motor development, her knowledge of curriculum and the support she received from her administration added to the success of her excellent physical education program. Cindy’s program is featured on the lab’s DVD as well as ABC’s Good Moring America, “Getting Kids Moving in School.”

Cindy was recognized as a leader in physical education as the 2006 Pennsylvania Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. She has also received the states Professional Honor Award and several local awards from the Lancaster/Lebanon Association. Cindy serves on several state and local committees to advance physical education. She has presented her program nationally at conventions including the Brain Expo in Orlando, National AAHPERD’s, PE4Life, as well as school districts across the nation. Cindy and Jean work closely with Dr. John Ratey author of “SPARK” and their Action Based Learning Lab is in over 2,600 schools across the United States, Switzerland, Australia and Canada. In retirement Cindy has supervised student teachers from West Chester University, continued presenting the Action Based Learning Lab, and remains active in her profession through personal wellness coaching and wellness support for our returning veterans.