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Vermont's Teacher of the Year champions activity, play and 'brain breaks' for students

Connor Cyrus
Robyn Newton, a physical education teacher at Vergennes Union Elementary School, was named Vermont’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Robyn Newton, a physical education teacher at Vergennes Union Elementary School, was recently named Vermont’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. The Agency of Education said she was chosen for her ability to make physical education joyful and instructional, while fostering the skills and confidence needed for healthy development and lifelong fitness.

Newton's selection highlights the importance of giving students breaks to be physically active, or “brain breaks,” which allow them to synthesize what they have learned and return to the classroom refreshed. As Vermont schools recover from the pandemic, high-quality physical education, unstructured play and “brain breaks” are critical to student success and well-being, the education agency said.

Host Connor Cyrus talked with Newton about her 27 years of teaching, what inspires her and what she hopes to accomplish as she travels around the state meeting with other teachers in the coming year.

Broadcast live at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or tweet us @vermontedition.

Connor Cyrus was co-host and senior producer of Vermont Edition from 2021-2023.
Tedra joined Vermont Public as a producer for Vermont Edition in January 2022 and now serves as the Managing Editor and Senior Producer. Before moving to Vermont, she was a journalist in New York City for 20 years. She has a master’s degree in journalism from New York University.