For new physical education and health teacher Madalynn Wulkan, choosing a course of study that combined traditional PE with developmental adaptive physical education (DAPE), a program that provides specialized instruction for students with disabilities, was a personal thing.
“I have always loved movement, sports and being active, and I come from a big family, so I have also always enjoyed working with and teaching my younger cousins, nieces and nephews, but I also grew up with a brother who has Down Syndrome, and he is the best. He inspired me to work with students like him and make sure every student has equal opportunities to move, participate and have fun.”
Background
The youngest of five siblings, Wulkan grew up on a farm in Hector and attended Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart Schools.
“Hector is a small town much like Cleveland, and I loved growing up there and going to school in a close-knit community,” she said.
After graduating from BLHS, Wulkan went on to Minnesota State University, Mankato, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in PE and DAPE. During her time there, she gained experience working with students through field placements and ACES after-school childcare in Mankato Elementary Schools.
Last spring, she did her student teaching at Maple River Public School in Mapleton.
“I had two awesome mentor teachers who taught me so much in the short time I was there. The other great staff really helped me become a part of the school community.”
During her teacher preparation, she discovered she enjoys different ages for different reasons.
“Younger students bring so much excitement and imagination into PE. As students get older, you can introduce more complex skills and concepts and help them begin to understand how physical activity and health fit into their lives beyond school.”
Cleveland is a good fit
Because she will be teaching students in first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and 10th grades a combination of PE, health and DAPE, Cleveland made for a good fit. Furthermore, the position also gave her the opportunity to be a part of a smaller school community.
“Coming from a smalltown school myself, I know how cool it can be when everyone feels connected and supportive of one another. I wanted to work somewhere that would allow me to know my students beyond recognizing them when they walk into my class. Because I'll be teaching several different grade levels, I have the opportunity to build relationships with students over time and become invested in the school community as a whole. I also really value being part of a staff where people know and support one another, and Cleveland felt like a place where I could continue growing as a young teacher while also contributing to the school.”
Wulkan is passionate about teaching both PE and DAPE.
“In PE, I love helping students build skills and then giving them the chance to use those skills in games. I especially enjoy stepping back, letting them play and seeing them get competitive, work together and really care about what they are doing. I also love DAPE because it gives me the opportunity to work individually with students and make sure every student can participate, be successful and enjoy movement in a way that works for them. I love helping a student reach their goals.”
“But heading into the school year as a first-year teacher, she set some goals of her own.
“I know that not every student is going to love PE or every activity that I teach, and I think it is important for a PE teacher to acknowledge that. My goal isn't to turn every student into an athlete. Instead, I want students to feel supported and comfortable just trying. I want them to discover ways they can be successful, confident and hopefully leave my classes with a healthier relationship with physical activity than they had when they entered.”
More than any individual sport or health topic, Wulkan is excited to help students understand that physical activity can look different for everybody.
“You don't have to love every sport. Part of physical education should be giving students enough experiences that they can discover something they genuinely enjoy and can hopefully continue doing throughout their lives.”
Strengthening her ability to plan and organize activities is also a goal.
“In PE especially, there are a lot of moving pieces, so having equipment ready, knowing how I want to organize the space and thinking ahead about transitions makes a huge difference. I also try to remind myself that no matter how carefully I plan something, I need to be willing to adapt. Sometimes the activity that looks perfect on paper just doesn't work with a particular group of students, and that's okay.”
Seeing a student who normally doesn't participate choosing to join an activity or smiling and having fun during class is especially rewarding to her.
“It can seem small, but when you know how much effort it took that particular student to get there, it's great.”
Wulkan is looking forward to becoming part of the Cleveland school community and really getting to know the students and staff.
“I’m excited to learn the traditions, personalities, and culture of Cleveland and hopefully become someone students and staff feel comfortable coming to and having around.”
Beyond the whistle
Wulkan’s secret to keeping her energy high during a long school day is simple: teaching PE doesn't provide much of an opportunity to sit still.
“I think a lot of my energy comes from the students. Every class has its own personality, and there's usually something happening that keeps you on your toes. I also think students feed off the energy of their teacher. If I'm asking them to be excited and participate, I need to be willing to bring that same energy myself.”
Wulkan enjoys all sports, but she definitely has a favorite.
“Basketball has always been my favorite sport. I loved playing in high school and continued playing through intramurals in college, which was a blast. I also really enjoy watching basketball, especially close games. I love the fast pace, high intensity and energy of a loud crowd when the game comes down to the final few minutes.”
While being a PE teacher and coaching often go hand-in-hand, as Wulkan steps into a new school and her first year of teaching, she wants to focus on becoming the best teacher she can be.
“I want to give myself the time to settle into my new role, get to know my students, and learn the school. In the future, though, I would love to get involved with coaching, especially softball or volleyball.”
Outside of the gym doors, Wulkan is an avid hunter.
“I love spending time outdoors hunting both big and small game with my family and friends. I enjoy hunting throughout Minnesota and have also been fortunate to go on hunting trips in other states. I also grew up trap shooting and still really enjoy shooting clay pigeons whenever I get the chance.”
One of her top goals is to see all Seven Wonders of the World, and she has visited two of them: Chicken Itza and Machu Picchu. In addition to her love for traveling and exploring new places, she has two dogs alongside several cats.