REGIONAL
matters
CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL OF
THE ARTS WELCOMES PICKLEBALL
indy Branscome and Brian Johnson,
P.E. teachers at Charleston County
School of the Arts (SOA) in North
Charleston, SC, are always looking
for new games and sports for their
P.E. classes—and pickleball fit the bill perfectly.
Last November, Cindy reached out to Christine
Whitener, Charleston USAPA Ambassador, to
conduct several pickleball clinics for the middle
and high school P.E. classes. Cindy and Christine
met twice to discuss what they’d need to introduce
pickleball to the students at SOA.
Christine contacted Selkirk and Onix, and they
helped out with paddles and balls for the clinics.
In January, Christine, along with fellow USAPA
Ambassadors Howard Jefferson, Al Bradshaw-
Whittmore and local pickleball player Leonard
Fox, met at SOA to conduct seven pickleball clinics
to approximately 200 students. The ambassadors
utilized four of the school’s tennis courts and each
instructor had an average of 12 to 15 students per
session. The seven sessions were held over a two-day
period, and the students were polite and attentive to the
instructors.
Cindy and Brian have already purchased 10 portable
nets and they plan to continue the pickleball clinics/
program in the spring when the weather gets warmer.
Holly Kut, District Instructional Specialist for Health &
PE for Charleston County School District, also contacted
the ambassadors to organize a pickleball session for
the teachers during the school district’s Health &
Professional Development Day. The clinic concluded on
February 15. They loved it and want to get their students
involved.
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