For the first time since 2002, the Texas Bicycle Coalition Education Department held a comprehensive training for field instructors on September 30, 2005. The training focused on standardizing the Texas SuperCyclist Curriculum teacher trainings with the goal of making the trainings more fun and effective.

The day began with a mock classroom set-up activity. The 13 field instructors were asked to evaluate the class site and arrange the room. This led to much brainstorming and a flurry of activity. After lunch, the group reviewed the set-up. Gayle Stallings, former executive director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition and a seasoned professional speaker and event planner, led the evaluation process. She then offered tips for preparing the best possible classroom environment.

The field instructors also learned a number of new activities such as the Seven Bike Laws game and the Bicycle Hang Tag game. As Chris Davis, program manager for the BikeTexas Safe Routes to School Program said, “We want the teacher trainings to be much more active for the participants. The new games allow us to keep the PE teachers moving. They should never sit still for more than seven minutes at a time.”

The response to the training was overwhelmingly positive. The field instructors had an opportunity to exchange ideas and visit with their peers. Everyone involved left with a better understanding of the cooperative relationship between field instructors, local outreach coordinators and Texas Bicycle Coalition Education Department staff.