Alithea Athans, left, youth market director of the American Heart Association, presents Albany School of Humanities P.E. Teacher Leslie Bogucki with an award during the school’s sixth grade graduation ceremony.
Albany, June 22, 2017 – Thirty years ago, Leslie Bogucki began teaching Jump Rope for Heart as part of her P.E. curriculum.
TODAY, THURSDAY, JUNE 22, at 9 a.m. at Albany School of Humanities, 108 Whitehall Road, Albany, The American Heart Association and the City School District of Albany honored her for 30 years of teaching Jump Rope for Heart. The recognition preceded the school’s 6th grade graduation.
“We can’t thank Leslie enough for her commitment to the children in the ASH community,” said Kathy Lanni, chief community officer at SEFCU and chair of the Capital Region Advisory Board of the American Heart Association. “One-third of New York’s children are overweight or obese, putting them at high risk for heart disease or stroke later in life. By engaging them in a fun activity like jump rope, Leslie has taught generations of children that exercise is fun, increasing their chances of living longer, healthier lives.”
“Like all great teachers, Leslie Bogucki makes learning fun. She gets even the most reluctant students excited about exercising and being healthy, and her work with the Heart Association is just one example of how she motivates kids to help the community while they help themselves,” said Kimberly Young Wilkins, interim superintendent of the City School District of Albany.
“Leslie Bogucki is a fixture at Albany School of Humanities, and her passion to engage students in health and fitness permeates everything she does. Jump Rope for Heart is one activity that Ms. Bogucki always finds time to champion, and the school community looks forward to it every year. Ms. Bogucki leads the charge to inform students of healthy practices and encourages them to help others,” said C. Fred Engelhardt Jr., principal at Albany School of Humanities.
Our mission is to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been fighting heart disease and stroke, striving to save and improve lives. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.