BikeTexas’ SafeCyclist Certification Training is a Safe Routes to School program that trains elementary school teachers, youth instructors, and law enforcement how to teach bicycle skills and safety as part of a physically active curriculum.
Fort Bend ISD School Wellness Coordinator Stephanie Kellam requested the training for their teachers as a strategy in their focus to prevent childhood obesity. She is interested in bicycle safety and hopes to provide numerous bicycle rodeos in the Fort Bend Community and has partnered with community leaders to help make an impact. Stephanie says that a goal moving forward is to incorporate the SafeCyclist program into the entire Fort Bend ISD.
BikeTexas staff Brenda Chuleewah and Ann Harkness, along with SafeCyclist Instructor Regina Garcia, coordinated with Fort Bend ISD School Wellness Coordinator Stephanie Kellam to present the training. The training took place at Fort Bend ISD, just southwest of Houston, on January 2, 2012.
There was great feedback from attendees. Kylaa Griffin, of Rosa Parks Elementary, reported back after the training. “The training was wonderful! It was truly a great training that was very informative. I met with my team today to see which of the Bike programs would be best for us. I’m certainly going to begin implementing a bicycle unit in class on a regular basis.”
Coordinating with community partners is a secret to any successful program. Also in attendance was a City of Sugar Land Parks and Recreation coordinator and a local bicycle advocate. She plans to incorporate the program into the summer and after school classes.
Some of the schools represented at the trainings have students who regularly bike to school. Highlands Elementary at 2022 Colonist Park Dr. in Sugar Land already has an average of fifteen to twenty students who commute to school. They hope to double the number this spring and teach the children how to commute safely.