Smart Steps is a walking program designed to get students and faculty moving through friendly competition. The program, now in five schools, includes weigh-ins, inspirational quotes, healthy recipes, walking logs, guest speakers, and performance awards. The Smart Steps program is customized for each school to fit the resources and desires of the school. 

Program Goals:

  • Increase student physical activity during the school day
  • Provide an opportunity to increase faculty physical activity during the day
  • Increase the faculty's knowledge of healthy lifestyle choices
  • Create a school environment that models healthy lifestyle choices to all students and faculty
Common Program Components:
  • Multiple mapped indoor and outdoor walking routes
  • Weekly or monthly encouragement emails
  • Weekly or monthly healthy recipes
  • Regular collection of participant mileage logs (monthly or weekly)
  • Smart Steps information board - for posting healthy recipes, exercise tips, and inspirational quotes
  • Monthly winner award posted outside classroom
  • Award winning faculty with gift cards and students with water bottles
2009-2010 Program Successes:
  • Eastway Elementary: 36 faculty signed up with 14 (39%) consistently turning in logs. 1,531 collective miles were logged by competition end and 11 participants reported weight loss. Among student/classroom winners, the 1st place classroom walked a collective 452 miles.
  • Fayetteville Elementary: 18 teachers signed-up and 7 teachers consistently walked (41%). The winning faculty team walked a collective total of 745 miles.
  • RN Harris Elementary: 25 faculty members signed up to participate. The first place faculty winner walked 388 miles. The first place classroom winner walked a total of 83 miles.
  • Southwest Elementary: 27 faculty members signed up to participate. The winning team walked a collective total of 319 miles. The first place classroom winner walked a collective total of 831 miles. As a school community, they logged 5,533 miles over the school year.
  • YE Smith Elementary: This program started in the middle of the school year. 39 faculty members signed up to participate and in three months they collectively walked 1,306 miles. The winning team walked 516 miles in just three months.