Kathy Langdon, district coordinator for physical education and health and wellness for Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), is the 2023 winner of the Governor & Cheri Daniels School Health Award for promoting health in schools.
Langdon was honored Wednesday, June 14 at 2023, during the Indiana School Health Network Conference at the Embassy Suites in Plainfield, Indiana.
The award was created to recognize former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and his wife Cheri for their leadership and contributions to the health of Hoosier adults and children through their work building and promoting INShape Indiana, creating the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), and supporting efforts to promote health in schools. Daniels was the first recipient of the award.
Langdon was recognized as a leader and strong advocate for student health and a healthy school environment in Indiana. She was commended for making outstanding contributions to improving statewide processes and policies that benefit Indiana schools, for promoting school wellness policies, school health behaviors, and related activities in the state.
“I am honored and incredibly grateful to have received this award and to represent IPS. I do not consider this an individual award; this is an IPS Team Award,” she said. “It takes a village to do the work we do in promoting health and without the whole school, community, and students, the work would not get done. We have incredible leadership from administration, teachers and community partners that help with the work that is done daily.
“Educating our youth on the importance of health, physical activity and what our city has to offer is incredibly rewarding for our students’ future. It is my passion and I love what I get to do for our amazing district and community.
In her current role, Langdon works with all staff on Physical Education, Health Education, Enrichment programs, wellness issues and implements initiatives using the holistic Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach. She has led updating the federal wellness policy in IPS, the state’s largest school district, resulting in all schools having a school wellness lead and a team that works to implement the district’s policy.
Langdon implements programs in IPS schools by partnering with organizations such as the Jump IN, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Donate Life Indiana, IPS Foundation, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Ninja Warrior, Indiana Skate Park Advocates, and the Indianapolis Youth Hockey Association Junior Fuel.
She is a Lifetime member of the Indiana Society for Health and Physical Educators (INSHAPE), SHAPE America Society of Health and Physical Educators, Association for Supervision Curriculum Development (ASCD) and SHAPE America, Society of Health and Physical Educators.
During the ceremony, Langdon received a plaque and a monetary award of $1,000, which will be donated to the nonprofit organization or charity of her choice.
Langdon selected Donate Life, is a nonprofit organization committed to saving lives by registering individuals to be organ donors.