CORINTH – For Jamie Russell, teaching physical education at Central High in Corinth is always an adventure.

Because of that, the LaGrange resident was named Maine’s secondary school physical education teacher of the year by the Maine Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at that organization’s annual awards banquet at the Samoset Resort in Rockport on Monday.

The MAHPERD consists of health and physical education instructors in grades kindergarten through 12 from throughout the state.

Russell joins his wife Dawn as a recipient of the award. Dawn Russell, an elementary physical education instructor at schools in Milo, Brownville and LaGrange, was honored by the same organization in 1998.

“I stole a lot of my ideas from her,” joked Russell, also the boys basketball coach at Piscataquis Community High in Guilford and one of the state’s top soccer officials.

Russell has been a high school physical education teacher for two decades, the last 17 years at Central where he currently serves as the lone P.E. instructor for a student population of 425.

During that tenure he has modernized the school’s physical education program, including the addition five years ago of Project Adventure. That adventure-based program shifts students away from traditional physical education fare, and instead provides opportunities such as mountain climbing, kayaking, river walks and ropes course work as well as community-service projects and fund-raising endeavors to support some of the group’s activities.

“We started five years ago with 14 kids, and now we’ve got 81,” said Russell, who added that the school soon plans to add rope course elements to its gymnasium. “It’s both a class and a club, and it’s really grown.”

Russell also has established a P.E. Leaders program, empowering upperclassmen at Central to contribute to classes as teaching assistants and giving them responsibilities that aid in the smooth running of classes.

“A lot of it is just problem solving and team building,” he said. “I know it’s changed how I coach, too. Now I give kids more of a say in decision making. I think it’s important to get kids more involved.”

Russell also has been active in adapting the Central physical education program to comply with local comprehensive assessments related to Maine’s Learning Results.

“He’s just a wonderful physical educator,” said Central principal Garry Spencer, who nominated Russell for the award “He has the best interest of the kids in mind at all times, and being the sole physical educator in our school he’s put together a wonderful program.”

“He’s an excellent role model for our students, and his energy is high. And another thing I’ve noticed is the number of students who come back to the school to see him after they graduate. That to me shows the respect the students he’s had over the years have for him.”