Dairy MAX Fuels Up the District

I’ve had the opportunity to do some pretty cool things as superintendent of Austin schools, but not every day is as exciting as the morning I spent at Barton Hills Elementary celebrating the implementation of the Fuel Up to Play 60 Active Play Areas on 80 elementary campuses across the district.

The Active Play Areas are made possible by a $320,000 grant from Dairy MAX. Thanks to their contribution, the play areas of every Austin ISD elementary campus will undergo a mini makeover—students and community volunteers will use stencils and sidewalk paint to create engaging art on the playscapes that encourage students to combine physical activity with learning about healthy nutrition. More than 1,500 AISD volunteers have participated in implementing the program, which aims to keep our kids happy and healthy.

Bright sidewalk art made with stencils, like the one created last spring at Blanton Elementary, will be installed across all 80 AISD elementary campuses.

Our parents, teachers and community volunteers weren’t the only folks who were energized about this program. Joining me at the Friday celebration of the program were Texas State Rep. Mark Strama, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, former NFL players Dan Neil and Austin High School athletics director Mike Rosenthal, USDA undersecretary Kevin Concannon, and UT professor Andrew Springer, whose public health research found the supporting evidence that made this implementation possible.

Former NFL player Dan Neil cheers on students participating in an athletic competition where they must quickly complete the tasks written on stars on the floor.

Former NFL player and current Austin High School athletics director Mike Rosenthal teaches students about the importance of making good choices when it comes to nutrition.

Raising our milk glasses for a toast to good health! (From left to right: RunTex owner Paul Carrozza, Texas State Representative Mark Strama, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Austin ISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, Austin ISD Associate Superintendent of Academics Suzanne Burke, District Supervisor of Physical Education Michele Rusnak, Dairy MAX representative Lisa Losasso, District Director of Nutrition and Food Services Chris Carrillo-Spano, USDA undersecretary Kevin Concannon and UT Professor Andrew Springer)

It was a lofty crowd who joined me at Barton Hills Elementary, but none of the speakers were quite as energized as our students who showed off their willingness to be active and present in their schools, thanks to programs like Fuel Up to Play 60. The Austin High School drumline and cheerleaders put on an engaging performance that had everyone in the room—from the very old to the very young—stomping their feet, and more than 450 Barton Hills students participated in a flashmob performance to the popular song “Firework.” (I love that song, and the Akins High School band really knows how to play it!) The energy was igniting.

The Austin High School Cheerleaders and Barton Hills Principal Kati Achtermann demonstrate one of many ways students can get on their feet and be active.

One of the district’s strategic goals is to ensure every student has access to health-related programming. This partnership with Dairy MAX and Fuel Up to Play 60 enables the district to do just that.