Making Awesome Changes: ‘Bribing’ Kids to Exercise after School

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Juanita Gatrelle, a P.E. teacher at Specht Elementary School in San Antonio, isn’t afraid to “bribe” kids to get physically active.

Gatrelle takes advantage of prizes offered by corporations and groups to reward kids for participating in various activities in her new after-school program that is for students, families, and the public.

“The NFL and the Dairy Farmers of America have teamed up to reward kids, basically bribe them to get moving, and that’s just fine with me,” she said.

Gatrelle was featured this week on the “Making Awesome Changes” TV series, which partners KSAT-TV and Salud America! to feature people and groups who are pushing for healthy changes.

Salud America!, a Latino childhood obesity research network funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and led by the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, develops Salud Heroes stories to teach people the steps that go into healthy changes and to inspire more change.

KSAT-TV has featured these other Salud Heroes:

Cecil Whisenton, a Salud America! Salud Hero, helped bring healthy vending machines to schools (KSAT-TV video).

Cesar Valdillez, aSalud America! Salud Hero, helped start a community garden (KSAT-TV video).

Dante Jones, a Salud America! Salud Hero, started a youth bike club (KSAT-TV video).

Michaelie Love, a Salud America! Salud Hero, helped bring a school breakfast cart with healthy options (KSAT-TV video).

Stay tuned for more stories from Salud America! and KSAT-TV!