Henrico's Top Teachers – Ellen Bohon, Henrico Virtual Academy, physical education

When Ellen Bohon was growing up in Hopewell in the 1960s and 1970s, “women didn’t get to do very much in sports,” she recalled.

Well, maybe most women. Bohon was different.

She played baseball, softball and basketball, snow skied, water skied and even played tackle football with the boys in her neighborhood. When it came time to start thinking about career options in high school, Bohon’s focus was clear.

“The only I thing I knew was sports were my love, kids were my love, adaptive PE kids, that’s my world,” she said. “I was born to do that.”

And do it she has – for more than 35 years, first at Buckingham County High School, then Byrd (now Quioccasin) Middle in Henrico, followed by stints at Pocahontas and Hungary Creek middle schools (where she helped open each school and served as their initial athletic directors) before a switch to Henrico High School and now the Henrico Virtual Academy.

Bohon also has coached everything from girls’ softball, gymnastics and basketball to boys’ wrestling, tennis, golf and basketball. And, she’s taught drivers’ education and coached Henrico High School’s basketball team in the Medford League for students with disabilities. Softball was her favorite sport to coach.

“We did double steals all the time,” she said with a chuckle. “It always worked.”

One of Bohon’s nieces suffered from a skin disease that prevented her from being touched, and her interactions with that niece drew her toward working with children with special needs.

“I’ve been teaching adaptive kids my whole career,” she said. “That’s my love.”

So how does a PE teacher teach physical activity to students online? With creativity and care.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, Bohon had taught PE online for several years.

“And I felt like you could get a very different relationship with the kids, you could really build a relationship with the kids in a virtual setting. You don’t [always] get that in person. There are so many kids and so many behavioral problems at times, you don’t get any time to spend with the kids.”

Online, though, Bohon said she’s had no behavioral issues among her students in her five years at HVA. Her classes use a technology platform that allows students to learn about various sports, health and recreational activities before they participate in physical warmups for them, as directed by the platform, and ultimately practice skills as directed.

Her eighth-graders recently completed a hip-hop dance course, while tenth-graders were focused on pickleball, for example.

Each class session is divided into two parts: one for health education, and one for physical activities. This year, she’s worked with a total of 71 eighth-graders, 63 tenth-graders and 13 adaptive students.

And though the courses are primarily conducted online, Bohon also enjoys bringing students together in person for various events, like fall festivals for sports and robotics, and end-of-year festival with laser tag and other activities, and trips to VCU basketball games, among others.

“We have a virtual community,” she said. “The first year, no one knew each other. But the tenth-graders, they know everyone in the class now. They’re together, they’re talking, they’ve built friendships here.

“I think it’s a great program. I would never go back in person.”

It’s great, according to several nominators, largely because of Bohon’s diligent efforts.

“Ms. Bohon has the biggest heart when it comes to her students,” one wrote, “never hesitating to go above and beyond for those students who need a little more attention and direction. She has helped to mold and enrich the lives of so many kids and she deserves to be recognized for her compassion and dedication to the young lives she has been entrusted with each day.”

Wrote another: “Our son has been in Ms. Bohon’s class for over three years. During his first year, he was very shy and easily agitated by little things. He was constantly in an unstable emotional state. Each year with Ms. Bohon, we observe significant improvements in his emotional regulation. He is now able to participate fully in class for the entire duration. He no longer shouts over technical glitches. He is much happier, more engaged, and actively participates. We have witnessed significant improvements in his emotional regulation. Our son loves Ms. Bohon.”

“Ms. Bohon shows up – each day, with great energy and a genuine desire to see ALL of her students be successful,” wrote a third nominator.

Through all her stops, all the responsibilities she’s had at each one and all the students she’s interacted with, Bohon’s primary focus has been on creating connections.

“One thing I’m proud of is what I’ve done with the special needs kids, with the exceptional ed children,” she said, “and the relationships I’ve built with all of my students.”