Barbara Meleney

Barbara Meleney’s Biography

I was a collegiate gymnast at Jacksonville State University in NE Alabama.  In 1987, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a minor in Health.  Following graduation, I did short stints working as Alabama Special Olympics’ Sports Director, coaching at the Raleigh School of Gymnastics and working for Wake Co. Public Schools teaching middle school Health and PE. 

In 1989, I started my dream job, teaching Adapted Physical Education, for Durham Public Schools.  During my tenure with DPS, I earned my National Board-Certification for Early/Middle Childhood Physical Education and my National Certification for Adapted Physical Education.  Over the years, I was heavily involved in Special Olympics, coaching numerous sports, but was most involved with SO Gymnastics.

After years of running SO gymnastic clinics. camps, local and state level competitions and working on the NCSO Sport Development Team, I was named Gymnastics Competition Manager for the Special Olympic World Games which were hosted in Raleigh, NC in 1999. 

My passion and emphasis over the past 10 years has been working with the North Carolina Adapted Physical Education Advisory Council (NC-APE-AC) which I co-founded in 2010 in response to the NC Dept. of Public Instruction’s call for help with Adapted PE services in NC I have enjoyed helping other educators by sharing my expertise through local, state and national presentations.

In July 2018 I retired from DPS and came to work part time at Excelsior as the Adapted Physical Education Specialist.  I continue to work closely with other adapted and general physical educators to promote quality APE services and equal access across the continuum of services for students with disabilities in North Carolina.

This school year brings new opportunities and challenges for me.  I am very excited about my new role as Excelsior’s K-2 Physical Educator but of course disappointed about having to start the year virtually (pre-recorded no less.)  The new teaching platform will definitely be a technology challenge for me but one I am determined to tackle.  Hope to see you all in person soon!