General Questions:

Dr. Matt Symonds, Executive Director 

MOSHAPE1925@gmail.com

Membership/Website Questions:

Mary Driemeyer, Director of Technology

mdriemeyer@lindberghschools.ws

MOSHAPE

History Highlights

Missouri started its first professional physical education organization in 1925. At that time, the Missouri organization was known as the Missouri State Physical Education Association - from 1925 until approximately 1937 - when it is believed the name changed to Missouri State Association for Health and Physical Education (MAHPE) to mirror name changes at the national level. The first president was Henry S. Curtis (pictured at right) and he served in that role until 1929. Curtis was the State of Missouri Director of Hygiene and Physical Education, a prolific writer, and a nationally recognized expert on play.


Also pictured (black and white) is Helen Manley, the 1936 and 1937 Missouri president. Manley was a national leader in health and physical education and pioneer in sex education. Manley also served as AAHPER president in 1946-47 and has a MOSHAPE award named in her honor.


The final picture (color) is Dr. Kathleen Kinderfather, the 1978 Missouri president and who also served as the association's executive director. She was a national leader in dance education and a role model, mentor, and “leader of leaders” in our profession. MOSHAPE's highest individual honor is named in Dr. Kinderfather's honor.


MAHPER and MAHPERD

Adding Recreation and Dance

At some point in the 1950s, Missouri added recreation to the name and became the Missouri Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (MAHPER). The addition of Dance to state and national professional organizations began in the mid- to late- 1970s. While it's not certain precisely when Missouri followed suit, we do know that Missouri Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (MAHPERD) was incorporated as an association in February of 1980.

Becoming MOAHPERD

Efforts to Eliminate Confusion

In 2002 MAHPERD was changed to MOAHPERD: Missouri Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. The name change was first announced in the convention welcome letter and association newsletter. A primary motivation for this change was to provide clarity and identification, as many “M” states had the same state acronym at that time. The association remained MOAHPERD until 2019.

MOSHAPE

2019 TO TODAY

At the February, 2019 Board of Directors meeting, the name change to the Missouri Society of Health and Physical Educators was approved. This followed several years of deliberation following the SHAPE America name change in 2014. Along with this name change, governance structure, board membership, and committee reorganization also took place.



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