Dedicated to Health and Wellness in Our Students

Reprinted from Traditions, Winter 2019-20
April 3, 2020

Jodi Muetzel is a Physical Education and Health Teacher with 26 years of teaching experience, all at Cretin-Derham Hall. Her courses currently include Yoga, JROTC, Women’s Fitness, Health/Summer Health. She is the Department Chair and serves on the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), tasked with supporting the faculty with implementation of best practices and new teacher mentorship. She also serves on the Wellness Committee. In addition, she has also coached softball and girls’ basketball.

How did you end up in education?

Growing up, I had a lot of good teachers and coaches but I also had some that were pretty negative. I thought that if I became a teacher or coach, I would want to be a positive influence in students' lives. I chose education because I wanted to teach, not just sport skills, but also life skills. I picked Physical Education and Health because I have always thought physical, mental/emotional, social and spiritual health are all so important in students’ lives.

In your position, you work diligently to enhance our students’ sense of health and wellness. What do you think is important for schools to remember about our teenagers’ well-being?

A big part of my job is helping students navigate through the ups and downs of life. Students have very busy lives with school, homework, work, and activities. At times, they don’t have a lot of down time. Students have a lot of pressure to be the best in everything they do, and they are afraid to fail. This could be a big reason for the increase in depression, anxiety and stress. I work with the students in their mental/emotional, social, physical and spiritual part of their lives. I try to give them the tools to improve in each area and help them if they face obstacles.

What do you hope our students learn in their high school years that will positively impact their wellness throughout life?

You do not have to be perfect. Always be good to yourself and take time for yourself, like exercise, meditate, and read. Stay active. Be confident and surround yourself with positive people. Find something you like to do in life and have fun. Don’t sweat the small stuff and learn to let stuff go.

How has your faith inspired your teaching?

I believe my faith has improved everything I do. In teaching Health, we can consider our spiritual health as important as our physical health. Faith often helps us find peace and balance in life so we should rely on faith (if we are comfortable) to help make sense of things happening in our life. I share my faith with my students because I know there have been plenty of things that happened in my life that I could not handle if I didn’t have my faith and personal relationship with God. The thing is, talking to God is the one thing that is non-judgmental, so no matter what the struggle, He is the help you can rely on.

You have been a coach for much of your career, either in the traditional world of sports or, more broadly, of students. What do you think makes a ‘good’ coach?

Coaches have a big job and in high school, there are times of the year that the student spends more hours with the coach than his/her parents. Coaches need to build relationships and keep open lines of communication with the student-athlete. The coach’s job is to help build confidence and self-esteem. And, of course, coaches need to make it fun. Most students participate in sports because they want to have fun. It is not the only thing in their life that is important to them — they have school, family, teammates, and God. Good coaches help them find balance.

Who has inspired you?

Growing up, my family inspired me and still does. They taught me to be confident and strong and I always knew they had my back. My brother, Billy, passed away in 2011 and he was my biggest fan. He taught me to enjoy life and to let go of the stuff that did not matter. My sister, Vicki, who passed away in 2019 of cancer, was a huge part of my life. She was my ‘person.’ She battled cancer five times in seven years with dignity and strength. She relied on her faith, family and friends. She kept fighting until she couldn’t anymore, but had peace because she was a faithful person. Vicki taught me to live each day to the fullest and be the best person you can be. She still inspires me every day. And so important, my family, Jeff, Nicole, and Sammy, have all made me a better person and are always there for me.

In your experience, what is special about Cretin-Derham Hall?

CDH is special because it is a community, a family that truly cares about you. The faculty/staff and students make this a great school. Working at CDH has made me a better person.