Staff Spotlight

Physical education teacher David Rowse aids Heritage students in building healthy habits through effort and attitude

by Mary Jo David

The pandemic produced lasting changes for many, and Heritage School is benefiting from the changes physical education teacher David Rowse put into motion as a result.

In 2020, Rowse was in his eighth year working for an insurance company, where he was responsible for facilities renovation. The onset of COVID meant he could skip his 45-minute commute, each way, and instead work from home. Rowse decided to use the extra time he gained from eliminating his commute to do something more active, so he began coaching for the Stockbridge School District.  

He has always been interested in fitness, but the coaching experience confirmed something else for Rowse—he discovered he really enjoys working with kids.

“My old job was primarily a desk job with a bit of travel. I was sitting in front of a computer eight to nine hours a day,” recalled Rowse. “I felt like I was slowly killing myself in front of the computer. I wanted a change of lifestyle.”

Rowse believes if you want to try something new, you should immerse yourself in it. Thus he began by coaching, and then investigating alternate options for expanding on his original degree in facilities management from Ferris State so he could pursue a career in teaching. By 2021, Rowse began as a PE teacher in Stockbridge.

Currently he teaches kindergarten, fifth and sixth grade physical education at Heritage School. He also coaches seventh grade basketball and helps out with JV and varsity baseball.

When Rowse looks back at his youth, he remembers when PE meant running a lot of laps, but he tries to make his classes a bit more interesting.

”They learn fun, useful exercises the kids can do later in life. At the same time, I still want to make sure their heart rate is up and they get a sweat going.”

Rowse is confident that most of his students enjoy phys ed class, and to someone like Rowse, who has always loved PE, it’s tough to imagine they wouldn’t.

“Motivating those who don’t love physical education can sometimes be a challenge. Mostly I try to remind them that they have all day to sit at a desk or in front of a computer, and unlike other classes, this one gives them a chance to get their energy out,” Rowse said. He also thinks that as a participation class, PE motivates students, because they realize one person not wanting to participate can throw off the whole class.

Says Rowse, “In math, if you don’t do your assignment, it doesn’t affect the person next to you. But students aren’t as apt to quit in the middle of a game if they know it will hurt the rest of the team.”

Rowse primarily grades his students based on effort and attitude.

“Those are two things they can control every day. I worked for 10 years in the business world, long enough to gain some real-life experience outside of school. I know that students who give their best effort, put forth a great attitude, and work well with others have better chances for success,” Rowse explained.

Recently, with the help of fellow PE teacher Craig Rehmann, Rowse reintroduced The Heritage Mile—modeled after the Katz Mile, a popular annual event held years ago for Stockbridge students.

Rowse was particularly heartened by one boy who won a third-place ribbon in the event. “When he got his ribbon, he let out the loudest ‘Yessssss!’ said Rowse. “It was obvious to me that this was something this student really, really wanted to achieve, and enthusiasm like that prompted some of the kids who opted out to start talking about running it next year.”

Enthusiasm and working hard are important in Rowse’s mind. He reminds students that the body they have now is the body they will have for the rest of their lives.

“I try to get buy-in from the kids to build healthy habits and a happy, healthy lifestyle now, so it will pay off later,” he says.

Rowse grew up in Stockbridge. He is the youngest of three siblings. His parents—Terry and Anne Rowse—both graduated from Stockbridge High School, as did David and his siblings. His mom retired after many years as a parapro for Stockbridge Schools.

In high school, Rowse played varsity basketball and baseball and was on the National Honor Society. It was also during high school that he began dating Kristen Fillmore, who later became his wife. The couple have two children, a 3-year-old son, Gabriel, and a 4-month-old daughter, Adrianne.

Considering the deep family history in this community, Rowse says he can’t imagine teaching anywhere else.

Says Rowse, “The kids in this school represent the future of the Stockbridge area. Maybe it’s selfish, because I live here, but I like to think that if my students succeed, then the town, including my family, will succeed. It’s the concept of ‘the rising tide carries all ships.’”