At Valley Elementary, Physical Education teacher Mr. Sheets doesn’t see gym class as just a time for kids to burn off energy. To him, it’s an opportunity to teach life skills like teamwork, resilience, and empathy. For over four years, Mr. Sheets has been teaching Thomas, a student who uses a walker or wheelchair due to a disability. Despite his physical challenges, Thomas is a spirited kid with a big smile and an eagerness to participate in PE. Mr. Sheets has always tried to adapt activities so Thomas could fully participate with his classmates. But this year, he wanted to take it a step further.
When Thomas joined the Rolling Beavers, a local wheelchair basketball team, Mr. Sheets saw an opportunity to create a special experience for Thomas and his classmates. For their annual basketball unit, Mr. Sheets brought in sport wheelchairs so every student could play wheelchair basketball. He wanted not only to give Thomas a chance to lead his peers but also to teach the class about the challenges—and strengths—that come with adapting to a different physical experience.
The day he surprised Thomas with the wheelchairs was unforgettable. When Thomas’s classmates entered the gym, they turned to him, excitedly predicting that he’d “cook on them” in wheelchair basketball. Thomas beamed with pride as he explained the game’s rules and demonstrated how to maneuver in the sports chairs. The class quickly realized that playing basketball from a wheelchair brought a new level of challenge, from the coordination needed to dribble to the endurance required to navigate the court.
After the game, Mr. Sheets shared a message with the class. He reminded them that while they may sometimes think it’s unfair when he adjusts activities to include Thomas, these modifications are designed to level the playing field. He encouraged them to consider how the wheelchair basketball experience might change their perspective next time they see a difference as “unfair.”
For Thomas, the lesson wasn’t just about basketball. His mother, Sarah Flach, shared how much it meant to see her son light up in PE class, feeling like one of the team. Born with spina bifida, Thomas has never had the use of his lower legs, and he often faces extra challenges in physical activities. While he loves PE, he sometimes comes home wishing he could keep up with his classmates. Yet, on this special day, Thomas was the star, showing his classmates the ins and outs of wheelchair basketball and proudly sharing his skills.
“We can’t believe how lucky we are to be part of a school system that not only offers adaptive sports for kids like Thomas but goes above and beyond to help the kids see what inclusion looks like,” Sarah said. “Mr. Sheets didn’t just make an adaptation; he created an experience that opened the eyes of Thomas’s classmates to the strength in differences and the value of everyone getting to play.”
Reflecting on the day, Mr. Sheets said, “Seeing Thomas’s smile, knowing he finally felt like just one of the rest, that’s exactly why I became a PE teacher.” For Mr. Sheets, teaching PE isn’t about exercise alone—it’s about creating moments of pride, inclusion, and understanding that shape students for life.