Today, “I am Hamilton,” spotlights Coach Aaron Wood, a physical education teacher at Hixson Elementary. Coach Wood has become a YouTube sensation during the time schools have been closed for his educational and entertaining videos to keep children moving, active, and participating in P.E. while out of school. He has amassed more than 7,000 subscribers to his YouTube Channel in the time students have been learning remotely due to the COVID-19 coronavirus (he does not have that many students.) The original videos he has recorded for children include a theme each day to make the lesson fun as well as educational. Wood’s themes have taken children to the beach, national parks, and Disney World in the imagination of the mind. He has also exercised as a unicorn to entertain while inspiring exercise.
“I am Hamilton” spotlights the contributions of alumni, teachers, parents, students, support workers, and community members in providing opportunities for children in the classrooms of Hamilton County Schools. Better opportunities for children today mean a brighter future filled with possibilities for our graduates, their families, and the community.
“Aaron Wood has done an amazing job motivating students, not only in Hamilton County, but all over the world with his creative, crazy, fun, and even educational YouTube P.E. lessons during this pandemic,” said Jill Ball, a teacher at Westview Elementary. “At first, his intention was to provide daily lessons for his students and then shared them with all students in Hamilton County, but within days the lessons went viral, and he is now providing valuable movement activities for children everywhere.”
Wood was invited to be a guest on the Hamilton County Schools “Continued Learning” show on PBS on March 30 and did a great job leading the host through a few of his fun activities. He recently recorded a Workout Wednesday P.E. segment with This-N-That on Channel 9 featuring his online videos that will appear soon on the broadcast. Wood has quickly become an energetic, fun, and educational celebrity for Hamilton County Schools. Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson and his family have even joined in to participate in Coach Wood's video workouts. Check out Coach Wood's channel called P.E. with Coach Wood on YouTube.
“He managed to post one of his lessons as his wife, Marissa, was in labor at the hospital and later that evening their sweet baby boy, Zeke Andersen Wood, was born,” added Ball. “Now, THAT is dedication!” Wood also credits his wife as his creative director and technical crew for his videos.
To nominate someone for “I Am Hamilton,” send an email to [email protected] with the name of the person you would like to nominate, the school the individual is connected to in Hamilton County Schools, the person’s title, and what makes the individual a valued contributor to Hamilton County Schools. You can nominate a graduate, teacher, parent, student, support worker, community member, or anyone playing a role in a school in the district. Also, include your name, school or location, and title.
Photos: (Top) Coach Wood shows off his I Am Hamilton shirt in front of the new chalkboard he made in his garage/classroom at his home. (Right) Coach Wood, with his creative team, wife Marissa, and new son Zeke.
The I Am Hamilton series won a 2019 NSPRA Golden Achievement Award for school district communications from the National School Public Relations Association.