MEGAN STEVENSON
Growing Wellness Education by Leaps and Bounds
story by MEGAN THIBAULT MORRIS photos by SUSAN DELOACH
A young Physical Education teacher is quickly making a name for herself. Megan Stevenson is in her third year of teaching at the first school that gave her a job after college — Beaufort High. And in these times, when physical and mental health topics are most prevalent, she has grown a standard PE program into an outlet for finding inner strength and building a community of wellness.
Megan has her bachelor’s degree from Coastal Carolina University and her master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. She has always felt a calling to serve others and help them feel better, no matter their athletic ability.
“I just love connecting with the students and being a mentor for them as they develop into adults,” says Megan.
It’s her prerogative to offer students a welcoming atmosphere, where they are encouraged to do their best and participate within their own comfort level. She realizes every student is different, and every student is special. The weekly program for physical education exposes the students to various workout regimens and sports while accomplishing the wellness elements that give students the strength to face each day. Workouts and activities vary throughout the week, and Fridays are for Yoga, a favorite of many.
Megan found that offering yoga to the students gave them a chance to slow down and breathe, and it gave them a mental break and quiet time to combat the stresses of their class load and life itself. She helps the students understand that their mental health is just as important as their physical health.
It’s no surprise that this effort translated to her support of other teachers. During the past couple of years of stressful, pandemic times, teachers were faced with many challenges. They too found peace through yoga classes that Megan offered before the hectic school day began. She has helped foster a support system within the bustling high school and is grateful for the family-like atmosphere among the staff.
“As a testament to her dedication, this Rookie of the Year teacher has already made a significant improvement to Beaufort High’s Physical Education offerings — not only through her incorporation of wellness and mental health, but also through the development of an Adaptive PE course. The adaptive program directly benefits students with special needs with slight modifications to the general course, so the students can all share the same experience,” explained Charity Summers, principal of Beaufort High School.
Wanting to promote inclusion among the student body, Megan hopes to take the Adaptive PE class a step further and comingle general PE students too. She feels this will create a buddy system, promote acceptance, and nurture friendship — key elements of mental health while the students are working on their physical health.
After leading PE and health/wellness classes each school day, Megan shifts her attention to the softball field, where she coaches the Girls’ Junior Varsity softball team.
Responsible for helping players develop their skills and athleticism in this sport, Megan encourages them to be the best they can be.
“Work hard, play hard,” coaches Megan. “Always practice like you are playing in a game.”
The softball tryouts just finished, and the season is set to begin. Megan hopes the girls will learn a lot about the game, and life itself, as they work as a team. She says some girls have played before and some have not, so she looks forward to building them up together.
From yoga before school to a full day of classes and afterschool activities, like coaching softball and announcing basketball, Megan shows her commitment to her profession day in and day out
She’s grown both professionally and personally, and has positively impacted many students and teachers. Her goal is to give others the tools, knowledge, and motivation they need to be healthy and take care of themselves. Beaufort is fortunate to have her setting down roots right here. Thanks to Megan Stevenson, wellness education has grown by leaps and bounds in the Lowcountry.
