HOLDEN – The Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, or MAHPERD, has named a Holden elementary school teacher the Middle Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

Timothy J. Pearson, a teacher of adaptive physical education and physical education at Dedham School, Holden, was awarded the honor at the MAHPERD awards ceremony Nov. 6, at the Samoset Resort, Rockport.

The Maine Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance is a professional association made up of educators who teach health, physical education, recreation and dance education in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12, in private and public schools..

Pearson has a master’s degree in physical education and kinesiology from the University of Maine and a bachelor’s degree in physical education, also from UMaine.

He has taught since 1987, and has been at the Dedham Elementary School since 1992. Pearson was awarded the Maine Association of Parks and Recreation Student of the Year (1986) and received the Outstanding Program Award for Adaptive Physical Education (1999-2000).

Pearson developed and directed a recreation program for Orland, and was a volunteer coach of youth softball, baseball, soccer and basketball from 1988-92. This year, he was the youth softball coordinator for Holbrook Recreation Department. For the past six years he has been the Pilgrim Presbyterian Youth committee chairman. He is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Maine State Learning Results Physical Education Taskforce.