The Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy (SUIMA) and Ignacio Elementary School (IES) welcomed professional athlete and owner of Learnin’ the Ropes jump rope program, Nick Woodard on Wednesday, Sept. 17 and Thursday, Sept. 18. All students learned the fundamentals of jump roping skills, gaining an understanding of the sport and its benefits. Students worked on developing strong character qualities such as leadership, integrity, teamwork, communication, and perseverance.
Learnin’ The Ropes is a non-profit corporation that exists to inspire, educate, and serve others through jump rope in order to promote active, healthy lifestyles for all. Learnin’ The Ropes provides exciting shows, classes, camps, and professional developments for schools, recreation centers, organizations, and more. They strive to promote the sport and all the positive qualities it provides.
Coach Nick Woodard is one half of the non-profit he shares with his wife Kaylee; he has been part of the sport of jump rope for 30 years and has won several national and world championships throughout his career. Woodard has traveled the world promoting the sport through workshops, shows, and camps. He has also performed for Cirque Du Solei, multiple NBA teams, schools and summer camps nationally.
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, elementary level SUIMA students gathered at SunUte Community Center to meet with coach Nick Woodard, students got to hear stories of Coach Woodard’s success within the sport of jump roping, ask questions, and then moved on to learning fundamentals of jump rope. Working with Woodard gave students an inside look at the world of jump roping and helped them gain the understanding that this sport is not limited to schools but is prevalent throughout the world.
The following day, programming continued at Ignacio Elementary School. P.E. Teacher Oscar Cosio felt that the experience had a positive impact on students and inspired them to improve their skills. “[P.E. Teacher Cindy Valdez] and I traveled to the SHAPE America National Convention & Expo a few years ago in Seattle, which is the largest physical educators, health, and fitness recreation conference in the U.S. and Nick Woodard was there promoting his business ‘Learnin’ The Ropes’” Cosio said. “We told him ‘we want to get you to Ignacio, as soon as possible’ and after speaking with principal Shauna Branch, the school district, and curriculum director we were able to make it happen – after speaking with Education Director Joe Claunch he expressed interest in hosting Coach Nick Woodard as well, and so we were able to get them in contact so he could also perform at both SUIMA and IES.”
“The day [Nick Woodard] performed and taught at IES, it was just high energy from the get-go, he was so on point and really got each class engaged from our fifth graders to our little kinders Coach Nick wowed us,” Cosio said. “Nick even shared some of his moves that he created during his career, moves that won him his multiple world championships. We learned a lot from him. It was really cool … having someone at his level come into our school was amazing, he truly inspired and motivated our kids to try something new.”