01/08/2026
The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS APHERD) recently honored SUNY Cortland physical education professor Helena Baert with a first-ever award created for college educators.
The more than 100-year-old professional association recognized Baert with its inaugural Excellence in Higher Education Award during the organization’s annual conference in Verona, N.Y.
The award was created to spotlight an exemplary higher education faculty member who teaches health education, physical education, exercise science, recreation or dance programs and who has made outstanding contributions to their institution.
Nominees are considered for their active involvement in higher education within New York state; state, district and national level professional activities; professional presentations; honors and awards; community service; professional development; quality program delivery; and excellent civility, character and citizenship while demonstrating sensitivity to the needs of students.
Baert said being the first recipient is deeply meaningful and humbling.
“It represents not only personal recognition, but the shared spirit of growth, learning and service that has truly defined my career,” she said. “To me, this award honors the community that has shaped me, students who have trusted me with their learning, colleagues who have challenged and inspired me and mentors who modeled what it means to teach with integrity and heart.”
The award represents the association’s first formal award for members affiliated with universities.
Active with NYS APHERD since she joined SUNY Cortland in 2011, Baert is a past president of the association’s Central South Zone and served on the statewide association’s executive board. Having coordinated and assisted with annual zone meetings, Baert is currently planning the upcoming one-day zone conference for Friday, Jan. 23, in SUNY Cortland’s Park Center.
“What makes this recognition even more powerful is that it comes from an association whose mission to provide leadership and quality services through health, physical education and recreation and dance professionals, whose current and future has guided much of my journey,” Baert said. “For years, New York State APHERD has been a professional home where I’ve learned, collaborated and grown. Its commitment to advancing our field through connection, advocacy and excellence has continually inspired me to raise my own standards as an educator and a leader.”
Baert said her own role models within NYS APHERD have included her SUNY Cortland Physical Education Department faculty colleagues Michael Kniffen, associate professor emeritus, and Matthew Madden, associate professor, and two retired secondary school educators from Waverly, N.Y., Pete and Kathy Girolamo, who stepped up to perform major association responsibilities.
She never imagined she would be the inaugural award recipient.
“I thought, ‘There’s a lot of other people at NYS APHERD that have come before me that I would consider mentors,” Baert said of her initial reaction to being the very first person nominated by the organization whose members include directors of health, physical education and athletics; health and physical education teachers; recreation and dance professionals; college professors and future professionals.
Baert has made a concerted effort to encourage her students to engage with NYS AHPERD, which provides New York State Education Department-approved professional development opportunities and continuing teacher and leader education (CTLE) credits that help teachers meet the state requirement of 100 hours of continuing education every five years.
She has strongly encouraged generations of Cortland students to attend the organization’s zone and statewide meetings and became active volunteers themselves.
“When I present at NYS APHERD, many attendees that come and see me are my current or former students,” Baert said. “I tell them, ‘I just taught you this in class,’ and they say, ‘I just want a refresher.’ It just warms my heart. To see that means I’m doing something right.”
Baert shared her own thoughts about teaching in a short question-and-answer video that was screened during the statewide conference.
She said the award reminds her that excellence in higher education is not a fixed destination, but a continuous process of reflection, curiosity and adaption.
“My own students have given my work its greatest meaning, reminding me daily why teaching and learning are both acts of service and joy,” she said.
“This award is not mine alone,” Baert said. “It brings to everyone who belongs, to everyone who believes in building collective power of our profession to inspire movement, foster connection and advance lifelong learning in health, physical education, recreation and dance.”
Select an image to begin a slide show
Baert proudly poses with some recent physical education graduates.
Baert, right, accepts her award from Lori Cring Bifarella ’87, 2025 president of NYS AHPERD.
Helena Baert, foreground, with a class near Raquette Lake, N.Y.
Professor Helena Baert