Brian Caspar Named Nebraska Elementary PE Teacher of the Year

GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — Becoming a physical education teacher wasn’t part of the plan for Brian Caspar.

While at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, he tried to find his passion. He initially took some business classes thinking that would be his path.

“It just wasn’t for me,” Caspar explained.

His college advisor helped Caspar unearth his future with a few simple questions: “What do you like? What’s your passion?”

Since Caspar was involved in college intramurals and was an avid sports fan, the advisor suggested a class that involved working with children at a local church and daycare. Caspar was tasked with supervising recess, lunch duty, and playing with the kids.

“I just fell in love with it,” he recalled. 

That single class was the pivot point that led him to his lifelong career as an elementary school PE teacher with Grand Island Public Schools. 

This year, deservedly so, Caspar earned the prestigious honor of being named the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) Nebraska Elementary PE Teacher of the Year. 

For 24 years and counting, Caspar has been bringing smiles, games, and valuable life lessons to the gymnasium floor. He taught PE briefly at Starr Elementary, but has spent most of his years at Engleman Elementary where he currently teaches. Caspar also teaches PE to the newcomers at Stolley Park Elementary.

While awards and recognition aren’t what he chases, being honored with the award is very meaningful to him.

“It’s very nice to be recognized,” he said. “It tells me that the people that I’ve been around have done a good job with me.”

He immediately credited his mentors and colleagues, including retired teachers Andy Gudgel, Dennis Korgell, and Bill Root, and current elementary physical education teachers at GIPSl. 

"It's really cool what you learn just from those people that have probably made me who I am," Caspar reflected.

With a 24-year career and counting, and 21 years at Engleman, Caspar is one of the longest-serving PE teachers in the district. He is beloved by families, staff, and of course students. 

When asked what keeps him coming back every day, his answer is immediate and unwavering: 

"Just the kids; the smiles," Caspar said.

The joy he finds in his job is evident in every interaction. He highlighted the satisfaction of watching his students grow. 

“I love seeing kids accomplish things that they didn’t think they couldn’t do,” he shared.

When stepping into the gym during Caspar’s class, the joy and care he has for the kids permeates throughout the room. He greets every student with a smile and a fist bump as they enter his class, and says goodbye to them after class in the same way.

The day before Halloween, he led students in “Haunted House Trick or Treat”, which is a relay tag game. Colored bean bags are laid in a large square which is the “Haunted House”. Students who are the taggers, stay inside the square defending the “candy” (bean bags) from being taken by the trick-or-treaters. The goal is for your side of the “street” to collect more candy from the house than the other side. 

During and after the game, which was a fun way for kids to exercise, Caspar sprinkled in lessons of safety. He reminded his students that if they go trick-or-treating, to slow down and stay out of the roads. 

What Caspar does is more than just drills and games. He is teaching his students to enjoy physical activity, the value of teamwork, and countless life lessons along the way. 

The students are what makes coming to work worth it.

"They make me feel like a rock star sometimes," Caspar said.

Ultimately, he believes the whole school community is what makes his job so rewarding. 

"This is a good place," he concluded. "Grand Island Public Schools is awesome."