Kent Hamilton is an educator based in Canton, Ohio, where he was named the state’s 2024 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. In this role, he teaches over 800 students at two schools.
Kent grew up playing golf on his family’s farm, where he would use natural features, like a tree or fence post, as hazards or targets. This creativity has continued to inform the way that he brings physical education to life in the classroom.
A few years ago, Kent began sharing videos of the creative activities his students were doing on Facebook. These videos showcase activities like bowling, basketball choreography and golf, all with the materials available in an elementary school gym. These videos have amassed millions of views, earning Kent recognition on ABC News, The Today Show and others.
“As a PE teacher, I am always trying to advocate for my programs,” Kent said. His goal with sharing these activities on social media was to give a window into his classroom and show that each day is filled with activities that are both fun and intentionally designed to promote learning.
As a member of the First Tee School Program, one of the units that Kent incorporates into his classroom is golf. Throughout this unit, Kent introduces the students to golf in fun and innovative ways, like by creating Topgolf bays or mini golf courses. At the same time, he also introduces them to the life skills that golf can teach. His students learn values like kindness and respect by complimenting each other’s good shots, or the ability to grow through challenge when their shot doesn’t go the way they want it to.
In addition to the physical education, Kent also makes an effort to incorporate additional learning opportunities that go beyond the time his students spend in the classroom. He invited a local author and parent at First Tee – Canton, Tim Satava, to present at a reading night held at the school. Tim read his book, “You and Me Are on the Tee,” to the students in attendance and then answered any questions they had about both golf and reading. After that, the students had the opportunity to set up a mini golf course in the gym and compete against one another.
With all of Kent’s innovation, it is no surprise that he’s earned recognition, like being named a Community Playmaker by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the future, Kent hopes to continue to spread learning and joy through physical education and golf, both for the students in his schools and also for the community he has built on social media.
“The school program is so important to give all students the opportunity to be introduced to golf,” Kent said. “There is so much joy in the game of golf.”
Click here to learn more about the First Tee School Program or to get involved at your school.
