The USTA Southern Section announced that Rick Grisham and Michelle Arnold have been hired as part-time Physical Education Tennis Specialists. Grisham, from Atlanta, and Arnold, from Murrells Inlet, SC, will be working with both state and sectional coordinators in growing and enhancing the USA School Tennis and after-school tennis programs.
The newly created P.E. Tennis Specialist position is a pilot program started and funded by the United States Tennis Association. The Southern Section was awarded two of these positions.
Grisham and Arnold will also be responsible for strengthening the alliance between the Southern Section and organizations such as the state Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AHPERD).
“I am excited about my new endeavor with USTA,” said Arnold. “Being selected will improve learning outcomes for my students because of the professional growth and development that I will attain during the upcoming year. As a physical educator I must take advantage of learning opportunities that will enhance my students' abilities to carry out a more active lifestyle.”
“I am very excited to be getting back into tennis and especially with kids,” explained Grisham. “USA School Tennis is the program that attracted me to the USTA in back in 1987 and I am excited to again be working with the organization in promoting this exceptional program.”
Both Grisham and Arnold are Physical Education teachers. Before they start working in these new roles they must attend a special training in Arizona in August.
Grisham is a past Executive Director of USTA Georgia who got his first job with the USTA in 1987 working with the USA School Tennis program for the state of Oklahoma. Arnold is an active USTA League Tennis player, who only picked up the game within the last few years.
“My plan as we move forward is to promote and encourage other teachers to take advantage of this wonderful active opportunity for their students and themselves,” Arnold explains. “I also would love to get the recreation department involved by having them offer an after school tennis program. Although tennis is not known as one of the popular sports in my county we do have several public tennis courts. I would love to see those courts full everyday!”