Carolyn Strong

PE teacher

Carolyn has a BS in Health and PE education from Oregon State University and a masters in Health education from Portland State University. She taught and coached in Hood River School District for nine years as a middle school and high school PE and health teacher. After that she was a stay at home mom for seven years with her now grown children (Kristina 20, Blake 17 and Lydia 15). Carolyn joined the Gardner School in 2001. She teaches elementary and middle school PE and health.

Carolyn is passionate about teaching.  She says The Gardner School is her dream job because of the strong sense of community and the children who are enthused and want to learn.  Carolyn feels children who enjoy moving and have a positive experience in PE will grow up to be adults who continue to value a healthy lifestyle.  Research shows that exercise enhances learning.  Physical activity  is good not only for the heart, but also the brain, feeding it glucose and oxygen, and increasing nerve connections, all of which makes it easier for children of all ages to learn.

Carolyn enjoys golfing with her husband Dale. She also loves snow skiing, backpacking, reading and watching her own children, the Trail Blazers and the OSU Beavers play sports.