Massachusetts association for health, physical education, recreation and dance Inc.

Brittni Upchurch is a proud graduate of Springfield College BS ‘13 and MS ‘15, a Board Member and past VP of the Adapted PE Division, a HPEW teacher at her alma mater Farmington High School, and a High School Volleyball and Softball Coach. She is currently entering her 10th year teaching High School PE and Health and is excited to see what the year will bring!

Hello, my name is Jodi Sevastos, I am 49 years old, happily married and have three children; (a son 22), (a daughter 20) and (a son 13). We live in a small affluent suburb in southern Massachusetts, with our adorable dog Chewy. My family is my most cherished gift. My husband and I have worked hard to raise our children with values such as; honesty, integrity, perseverance, humility, and empathy. We are very grateful for our health and work to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Personally, my hobbies include cooking, reading, exercising, listening to country music, going to the beach, watching my kids play sports and spending time with my family.

Professionally, I am finishing my 27th year of teaching, as a Physical Education teacher at a public high school in Milford, Massachusetts. I hold a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education from Rhode Island College and a Masters of Education in Health Promotion from Bridgewater State College. I maintain four MA teaching licenses: Physical Education (Pre K-9), Physical Education (5-12), Health Education (Pre K-9) and Health Education (5-12). I have spent the entirety of my professional career in one school district. The first ten years of my career were at the middle school level teaching both Health and Physical Education. The past seventeen years I have taught at the high school primarily in Physical Education. Additionally, I am the Wellness Curriculum Team Leader overseeing curriculum, best practices, professional development and the budget of both disciplines. Our district is one of the more diverse towns in MA. The population is multicultural, multilingual, and includes a vast range of socioeconomic families. The diversity within our school is one of our greatest assets. Interactions with the students are, by far, the best part of my day. I enjoy getting to know each individual, being a role model and sharing my enthusiasm for health, fitness and overall wellness.

Meghan Laughlin teaches 7th grade Health at Concord Middle School in Concord, MA. Over a decade ago, as an undergrad at UMass Lowell, Meghan knew that becoming a health teacher would be her dream job! At CMS, Meghan coordinates the Health & Wellness Team, which aims to promote students’ well-being at school. She looks forward to connecting with other wellness educators through MAHPERD’s Advocacy Network. 

Megan is a Physical Education and Health Teacher at Triton Regional High School in Byfield, MA. She has a Master’s in Physical Education from Boston University. As an educator, Megan’s mission is to ensure that all her students have a positive experience in her classes, even if PE or Health isn’t their favorite subject! Building connections with her students and learning about their stories is her favorite part of the job. Megan lives on the North Shore with her husband, 3 active kids, 2 dogs, a cat and their
chickens. She enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with her family at the local beach.

Susan Fishback teaches elementary Health and Physical Education in Barnstable Public Schools. In addition to teaching, she is a member of the district wellness committee, health curriculum council and recently helped bring Active Kids and Minds (before school fitness program) to her school. Finding ways for all students to enjoy PE and health is a passion for Susan and she is always looking for new ways to be sure she is reaching everyone. Susan is excited to bring her passion to advocating for the members of MAHPERD.