13 she can stand instead of sit. How did she go from teaching PE to leading all the district’s physical education and health pro- grams? The transition started when Mrs. Creigh- ton took time off to raise her kids. When she returned to work, she also began taking courses to get a master’s degree so she could become a principal.  After earning the degree, she was offered the job of overseeing health and PE for the school district. She says she knows she’s making a difference when teachers and principals tell her about school activities such as exercise breaks and active recess programs. “All these things together make for a healthier school,” she says. “So it’s not just about learning about [health] in your classroom— it’s about theory and practice,” she says. When asked what advice she has for children, Mrs. Creighton says: “Make good choices.” She recognizes that it can be hard to think and act when you’re forced to choose suddenly, espe- cially when you face peer pressure. So practice what you might do if faced with a difficult situation. For instance, what would you do if your friends wanted you to skip school or smoke a cigarette? “If you come up with something before and practice it, it will be much easier” to avoid risky situations, she says. “You have to really think ahead.” —By Healthy Bulldog staff AMY Northwest Illustration by Jayla Clark, James Dobson Fit Fin