July 22 - 23, 2027
#PEInstitute27NC SHAPE is pleased to announce that the National Physical Education Institute is back at UNC Asheville for 2027!
The National PE Institute is a premier professional development conference designed to enhance the teaching practices of health & physical education professionals.
Attendee Dates: Thursday and Friday, July 22-23, 2027.
Attendee Costs: Early bird registration is $375 for non-NC SHAPE members and $275 for NC SHAPE members. The price includes lunch for two days. This price is comparable to the typical costs for other national events. Please note that you must be an NC SHAPE member to receive the $100 discount.
Special “Elementary & Secondary Physical Education” Pre-Conference Networking Seminar! ($75): We will have a limited seating opportunity for those individuals wanting to have a classroom seat with two legendary mentors - Ben Landers, Founder of The Physical Education Specialist and Charla Krahnke, Secondary National Physical Education Teacher of the Year!. This will take place on Wednesday, July 21nd, from 1:00 - 5:00 PM in Mountain View at the Sherrill Center on the campus of UNC Asheville. Both of these two individuals have extensive workshop experiences across the United States and have been specifically selected for their warmth and caring teaching styles. In other words, you will be with two of the very best elementary, middle school and high school professionals on the planet!
Virtual Conference As Well! Can't Travel to Asheville? No problem! From July 24 to August 24, you can earn up to 3.0 CEUs by watching all 3 keynote speakers and 27 other specially selected breakout sessions in the comfort of your home or while on vacation. The Virtual Conference is the same price as the in-person conference.
Exhibitor Dates: Set-Up is Wednesday, July 21nd, between 1:00 - 5:00 PM. Take-Down is Friday, July 23th, from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. Contact Artie Kamiya for set-up and shipping information. Artie@ncshape.org. (919) 818-6486.
Exhibitor Costs: $750 for a single booth - comes with one 45-minute breakout session; $1,200 for a double booth - comes with two 45-minute breakout sessions; $3,000 for a sponsor booth - comes with two 45-minute breakout sessions and banner placement on stage and prominent booth placement.
Location: Sherrill Center/Kimmel Arena on the beautiful campus of the University of North Carolina – Asheville. 227 Campus Drive, Asheville, North Carolina 28804
3.0 Teacher Renewal Credits: Up to 3.0 CEUs (1 CEU = 10 Contact Hours) can be earned for this event.
1.2 CEUs (12 hours) for the in-person event on Thursday and Friday.
2027 Keynoters: This summer, we have been able to secure a very talented line-up of outstanding platform speakers who include:
Stevie Ray Gray: Stevie Ray Gray is an exceptional Elementary Physical Education Teacher for Henrico County Public Schools. Stevie has over 17 years of experience as an Elementary Physical Educator. He creates original learning activities focused on active lifestyles, healthy living, individual and team sport skills, dance, functional fitness, and games. His YouTube channel, RayGrayPE, features instructional videos including field day activities (SPES Field Day), cardio drumming, tag games, at-home PE lessons, and fitness challenges. Gray is active in professional PE communities. He has presented at events such as VAHPERD and HPAI, served as a team leader and presenter for JMU HPAI, and was a keynote speaker at the 2024 NC SHAPE State Convention. He has also hosted or appeared in PE-focused content like the Fit Connection podcast, discussing topics such as PE administration. He is also part of professional learning teams (e.g., with School Health / Five for Life program) and shares resources aimed at quality K-5 PE programming. The totality of his work is engaging with skill-building activities that students can do in school or at home.
Doug Hallberg: Doug Hallberg is a former Middle School Health and Physical Education Teacher from New York and a national-level PE professional development presenter. He is the 2017 SHAPE America National Middle School Teacher of the Year and the 2015 New York State AHPERD Middle School Teacher of the Year. He graduated from SUNY Cortland in 1992. He works as an OPEN PhysEd National Trainer, traveling to school districts to deliver in-person PE professional development. His sessions often cover SEL (social-emotional learning), proactive mental and emotional health (including “Believe In You” resources), student relationships, and practical activities that keep teachers actively engaged. He emphasizes “kids before content,” joy in PE, and building connections with students. Hallberg is a frequent presenter at SHAPE America events and state/regional conferences.
Jo Bailey: Jo Bailey is a High School Health & Physical Education Teacher at D.C. Everest Senior High School in the Wausau/Weston area of north-central Wisconsin. She has taught there for over 20 years. Originally from the UK, she spent much of her life in Hong Kong and taught in both the UK and Hong Kong before moving to the United States in 2004. She is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), a Google Certified Innovator, and the 2013 SHAPE America Midwest High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. She previously served as President of WHPE (Wisconsin Health and Physical Education) and on the SHAPE America Board of Directors. Jo is a frequent presenter and keynote speaker at PE conferences (including events alongside Stevie Ray Gray). She is known for her work with Meaningful PE (MPE), incorporating student voice and reflection, community connections, technology, and activities such as CPR/AED training, pickleball, outdoor education, and more. She shares resources via her blog (lovephyed.blogspot.com) and X/Twitter account
Chip Candy: Chip is this year's Alumni Guest Presenter! He is a retired Middle School Physical Education Teacher from the Medford, New Jersey. Chip was a State, District and a well-known National PE presenter. He was also a SHAPE America Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Candy emphasizes making fitness fun (“there really is no fitness without fun”), adventure-style activities in the gym, teamwork, leadership, SEL, and “FUNN” (Functional Understanding Not Necessary) approaches. He is known for creative, high-engagement activities (including unique handshakes and games) and for traveling to present at state and national PE conferences. Colleagues have referred to him as the “Jedi Knight of #PhysEd.” He shares ideas via X/Twitter at @candypeguy and has presented on topics such as adventure in the gym, equipment hacks, and building non-sports-dominated PE programs.
Plus a Guest Cadre of Fantastic Presenters! Joining this group will be a hand-selected cadre of 12 National & International Presenters and Social Media Mavens. Names will be released as the event draws closer.
Institute Contact
Artie Kamiya, Co-Executive Director
NC SHAPE
3509 Mossdale Avenue
Durham, NC 27707
Artie@ncshape.org
(919) 818-6486
Questions? Please contact Artie as time permits > Artie@ncshape.org or 919.818.6486.
Hotel Accommodations: Please note that we have secured approximately 200 rooms between the Embassy Suites (primary hotel) and the Double Tree (overflow). We anticipate a turn-away crowd.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown, 192 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801; 828-407-0422 (Reference “The National PE Institute 2025 - 2025 UNCA Event.” This is our primary hotel. This is our primary hotel.
DoubleTree: 199 Haywood, Asheville, NC 28801. (828) 505-8500. This is the sister property of the Embassy Suites and is right across the street from the Embassy. This includes breakfast at the DoubleTree and two drink vouchers at the Embassy Suites. Parking will be discounted to $15/night as well. This is our secondary hotel.
Wednesday, July 21st: Embassy Suites - Asheville Hotel. Check in on your own. Please note there is a $15/day fee for parking. This has been reduced from $30/night for #PEInstitute27 attendees.
Thursday, July 22nd
Friday, July 23rd
Artie Kamiya, Executive Director
Cell: (919) 818-6486
Address: 3509 Mossdale Avenue, Durham, NC 27707
Email:
The Alliance partners with other organizations that have common goals and interests. We encourage you to support their work as well as ours as together we strive to create a healthier, more creative, and active North Carolina.
NCAAHPERD-SM is a 501(C)(3) not for profit organization of athletics, health, physical education, recreation, and dance professionals whose mission is "To provide advocacy, professional development, and unity for health, physical education, recreation, dance, and athletics professionals and students in order to enhance and promote the health of North Carolinians. Our vision is to be the leading organization promoting and supporting a healthier, more creative, and active North Carolina."
